Batch file commands

In my previous article, we have seen the introduction of the batch file (batch script). In this article, I will describe some important commands of the batch file which frequently used. Below find the list of the commands.

Note: Batch file commands are not case sensitive.

ASSOC

Displays or modifies file name extension associations. If used without parameters, assoc displays a list of all the current file name extension associations.

Note: This command is only supported within CMD.EXE and is not available from PowerShell.

Example,

@echo OFF
assoc .txt

Output:

.txt = textfile

ATTRIB

ATTRIB command is used to displays, sets or removes attributes assigned to files or directories. If we used this command without parameters, display attributes of all files in the current directory.

Example,

To display the attributes of a file named test that is located in the current directory, type:

@echo OFF
ATTRIB test.txt

To assign the Read-only attribute to the file named test.txt, type:

ATTRIB +r test.txt

To remove the Read-only attribute from files in the Public directory and its subdirectories on a disk in drive B, type:

@echo OFF
ATTRIB -r b:\public\*.* /s

AT

Schedules commands and programs to run on a computer at a specified time and date. You can use at only when the Schedule service is running. Used without parameters, at lists scheduled commands.

ARP

The ARP command is used to displays and modifies entries in the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) cache. The ARP cache contains one or more tables that are used to store IP addresses and their resolved Ethernet or Token Ring physical addresses.

There is a separate table for each Ethernet or Token Ring network adapter installed on your computer. Used without parameters, arp displays help information.

Example,

To display the arp cache tables for all interfaces, type:

arp /a

To display the arp cache table for the interface that is assigned the IP address 10.0.0.99, type:

arp /a /n 10.0.0.99

arp /s 10.0.0.80 00-AA-00-4F-2A-9C 

CD

The batch command CD helps in navigating through different directories and changing directories or displaying current directory.

Example,

@echo off
Rem The cd without any parameters is used to displaying the current working directory
cd
Rem Changing the path to Program Files
cd\Program Files
cd
Rem Changing the path to Program Files
cd %USERPROFILE%
cd
Rem Changing to the parent directory
cd..
cd
Rem Changing to the parent directory two levels up
cd..\..
cd

Output:

C:\Users\Administrator
C:\Program Files
C:\Users\Administrator
C:\Users
C:\

CHKDSK

The batch command CHKDSK is used for checking errors in the disk.

Example,

@echo OFF
CHKDSK

CHOICE

In the batch script, choice command prompts the list of single-character choices and allows the user to select one item from the list.

Syntax,

choice [/c [<Choice1><Choice2><…>]] [/n] [/cs] [/t <Timeout> /d <Choice>] [/m <“Text”>]

Parameters:

Note: The ERRORLEVEL environment variable is set to the index of the key that the user selects from the list of choices. The first choice in the list returns a value of 1, the second a value of 2, and so on. If the user presses a key that is not a valid choice, choice sounds a warning beep. If choice detects an error condition, it returns an ERRORLEVEL value of 255. If the user presses CTRL+BREAK or CTRL+C, choice returns an ERRORLEVEL value of 0.

Example script,

In the below script I have created a list of A, B and C. here choice command will invoke the list and ask the user to select the character from the list.

@ECHO OFF
:BEGIN
CLS
CHOICE /N /C:ABC /M "Select Character(A, B, or C)"
IF ERRORLEVEL ==3 GOTO THREE
IF ERRORLEVEL ==2 GOTO TWO
IF ERRORLEVEL ==1 GOTO ONE
GOTO END
:THREE
ECHO YOU HAVE PRESSED C
GOTO END
:TWO
ECHO YOU HAVE PRESSED B
GOTO END
:ONE
ECHO YOU HAVE PRESSED A
:END
pause

CLS

This command is used to clear the console screen.

Example,

@echo OFF
CLS
pause

CMD

This batch command invokes a new command prompt window.

Example,

@echo OFF
CMD

COMP

The COMP batch command compares the size of two files and checks if they are different in size.

Example,

@echo OFF
COMP C:\data1.txt C:\data2.txt

CONVERT

The CONVERT batch commands the volumes or drives from one format to another i.e from FAT to NTFS.

Example,

@echo OFF
CONVERT D:\

COPY

The COPY command is used for copying files from one location to another location.

Syntax,

Copy [source] [destination]

Example,

In below, I am copying a file (Test.txt) from one drive (D) to another drive (E).

COPY D:\Test.txt E:\

DATE

The DATE command displays the current date of the system.

Example,

@echo OFF
echo %DATE%

DISKPART

The batch command DISKPART shows the properties of a disk partition.

Example,

@echo OFF
DISKPART

DRIVERQUERY

This batch command displays all the drivers installed and their properties.

Example,

@echo OFF
DRIVERQUERY

DEL

DEL command is used to delete files.

Syntax,

del [filename]

Example,

• To delete a single file Test.txt.

DEL D:\Test.txt

• Delete all the files of .txt extensions and ask for confirmation before deleting.

DEL /p/s D:\*.txt

• Delete all the files of .txt extensions and not ask for confirmation before deleting.

DEL /s D:\*.txt

DIR

DIR command lists all the contents of directories.

• List all the contents of the current directory.

DIR

• Lists all files with .txt extension.

DIR *.txt

• Lists all hidden files only.

DIR /ah

• List files with hidden files.

DIR /a

ECHO

ECHO command is used to display the message on the console or turns echoing commands on/off.

Example,

echo Hello Aticleworld

You can see that in the below example command itself displaying on the console. So using the echo you can also off the displaying the commands on the console.

See example,

@echo OFF
echo Hello Aticleworld

EXPAND

The EXPAND batch command extracts the contents of the compressed .cab cabinet files file.

Example,

@echo OFF
EXPAND test.cab

This script will extract all the contents of the test.cab file to the same location where test.cab is located.

EXIT

EXIT command terminates and exits the console.

Example,

@echo off 
echo "Hello Aticleworld" 
exit

FC

The FC batch command finds the difference between the two files and displays them to console.

Example,

@echo OFF
FC D:\test1.txt D:\test2.txt

FIND

Find (batch file commands) is used to search the specified string in a file or files and displays lines of text that contain the specified string.

Syntax:

find [/v] [/c] [/n] [/i] [/off[line]] “string” [[Drive:][Path]FileName]

Parameters

Example,

The below script will search for the string “aticleworld” in my.txt file. If the specified string exists in my.txt, it will display the corresponding line.

@echo OFF
FIND "aticleworld" my.txt

FORMAT

The FORMAT batch command is used to format Windows-supported file systems such as FAT 16/32 or NTFS.

Example,

The below script will format the E drive.

@echo OFF
FORMAT E:\

HELP

This batch command shows the list of Windows-supplied commands.

IPCONFIG

The batch command IPCONFIG displays Windows IP configuration.

Example,

@echo OFF
IPCONFIG

LABEL

The LABEL batch command displays the label of a drive or volume and is also is used for adding, setting or removing a disklabel.

Example,

@echo OFF
LABEL

MD

This batch command creates a new directory or folder in the working directory.

Example,

The below script will create a new directory test in the current working location.

@echo OFF
MD test

MORE

This batch command displays the content of a file one by one.

Example,

@echo OFF
MORE D:\test.txt

Note: In order to proceed and display the remaining contents of the file, you need to enter a key.

NET

The batch command NET is used for many network functionalities depending upon the commands used.

Syntax,

NET [variant]

Where its variants can be one of the following,

• net accounts.
• net computer.
• net config.
• net continue.
• net file.
• net group.
• net help.
• net helpmsg.
• net localgroup.
• net name.
• net pause.
• net print.
• net send.
• net session.
• net share.
• net start.
• net statistics.
• net stop.
• net time.
• net use.
• net user.
• net view.

PING

This batch command is used for sending ICMP/IP packets to the designated address over the network.

Example,

Below script will send packets to address 127.0.1.1

@echo OFF
PING 127.0.1.1

Output:

Pinging 127.0.1.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 127.0.1.1: bytes = 32 time<1ms TTL = 128
Reply from 127.0.1.1: bytes = 32 time<1ms TTL = 128

Ping statistics for 127.0.1.1:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms

MOVE

MOVE command moves files or directories between directories or renames the directories.

Syntax,

MOVE [source] [destination]

Example,

• move Test.txt from dir1 to dir2.

MOVE D:\dir1\Test.txt D:\dir2

• Rename directory dir1 to dir2.

MOVE E:\dir1 E:\dir2

• Rename fileTest.txt to Test1.txt.

MOVE E:\Test.txt E:\Test1.txt

• Move directory dir1 from E:\ to E:\Test.

MOVE E:\dir1  E:\Test\

PAUSE

PAUSE command is used for holding the console screen till the user enters input value.

@echo OFF
ECHO Hello Aticleworld
pause

REM

This command is used to put a comment in the batch script.

Example,

@echo OFF
REM This is a comment

REN

The batch command REN is used for renaming files and directories.

Example,

@echo OFF
REM To rename x.php to y.php
REN C:\Test1.C C:\Test2.c

SET

Displays, sets, or removes CMD.EXE environment variables. If used without parameters, set displays the current environment variable settings.

Example,

@echo OFF
SET

SHUTDOWN

The SHUTDOWN command enables you to shut down or restart local or remote computers one at a time.

Example,

@echo OFF
SHUTDOWN

SORT

The batch command SORT reads input, sorts data, and writes the results to the screen, to a file, or to another device.

START

The batch command START is used to open a file or start a new program.

Example,

The below script will start the application paint if it is in the working location, else you will have to explicitly indicate the path of that program as well.

@echo OFF
START paint.exe

SYSTEMINFO

The batch command SYSTEMINFO displays detailed configuration information about a computer and its operating system, including operating system configuration, security information, product ID, and hardware properties (such as RAM, disk space, and network cards).

Example,

@echo OFF
SYSTEMINFO

TASKLIST

The TASKLIST command displays a list of currently running processes on the local computer or on a remote computer. Tasklist replaces the tlist tool.

Example,

@echo OFF
TASKLIST

TIME

The batch command TIME is used to display or set the system time. If used without parameters, time displays the current system time and prompts you to enter a new time.

Example,

@echo OFF
ECHO %TIME%

Output:

8:47:05.00

TIMEOUT

The TIMEOUT command is used to pauses the command processor for the specified number of seconds.

Example,

To pause the command processor for ten seconds, type:

timeout /t 10

TITLE

The batch command TITLE sets the new title for output console.

Example,

@echo OFF
TITLE Aticleworld

TREE

The tree command displays the directory structure of a path or of the disk in a drive graphically.

TYPE

The batch command TYPE is used for displaying the content of a file to an output console.

Example,

The below script will display all the contents of test.txt to the console.

@echo OFF
TYPE C:\test.txt
pause

VER

The batch command VER displays the operating system version number.

Note: This command is supported in the Windows Command prompt (Cmd.exe), but not in PowerShell.

Example,

@echo OFF
VER
pause

VOL

The batch command VOL displays the current volume label of Windows.

Example,

@echo OFF
VOL

where

The where batch command displays the location of files that match the given search pattern.

Examples,

To find all files named “Test” in drive C of the current computer and its subdirectories, type. here /r is for subdirectory search.

where /r c:\ test

XCOPY

The batch command XCOPY is similar to COPY command but COPY command copies single file whereas XCOPY command copies entire directories including subdirectories.

Example,

The below script will copy test.txt from D drive to E drive.

@echo OFF
XCOPY D:\test.txt to E:\

If you want to add another batch file commands in this list, then your welcome. I will publish the mentioned batch file commands with your name. If you have any other suggestions for this batch file commands list, then please write in the comment box either you can directly email to admin@aticleworld.com.

In the Last, I will also try to create a free eBook of batch script commands (batch file commands PDF) with its usage.

Recommended Articles for you:

• Batch file introduction.
• How to create variables in the batch script.
• Batch script to copy files from one folder to another folder.
• How to use if-else statements in the batch script.
• for loop in the batch file.
• List of Linux Commands.