Want to have fun and learn at the same time? Or maybe just have some fun? Well, batch files to a good job of doing both! Batch files are not programs, they are a set of commands that you can write and later execute.


How to make Batch Files:
You can make batch files extremely easily and in 4 quick and easy steps.
1. Create a new .txt file (preferably in NotePad).
2. Put the text into the .txt file (use plain text without the use bold, underlines and italics.)
3. Save the file with .bat as the extension instead of .txt.
4. Run the .bat file like you’d run any other file or program.


Useful/Essential Commands:
@ECHO OFF: This is the most important command in it because without this command, it wouldn't even start. This is put at the very start of the

START: This command can open files and start programs. For example, START C:\WINDOWS\Picture.jpg opens a JPG image and START C:\WINDOWS\Program.exe starts a specific program.

ECHO: This command is followed by text to be put on the screen e.g echo Text to go on screen.

COLOR: You can change the colour of your text by putting (before your ECHO command) COLOR and then a number or letter (0 = Black , 1 = Blue, 2 = Green, 3 = Aqua, 4 = Red, 5 = Purple, 6 = Yellow, 7 = White, 8 = Gray, 9 = Light Blue, A = Light Green, B = Light Aqua, C = Light Red, D = Light Purple, E = Light Yellow and F = Bright White ).

CLS: This command removes all text from the screen previously.

PAUSE: This takes a stop and asks the user to press any key to continue the file.

GOTO: You can group parts of your program by preceding the name with a colon e.g :Section

IF: This is a pretty standard conditional and it's usually used with the SET /p %input%= like in Example 5 (see bottom of blog entry).

COPY: This is used by putting the COPY command followed by the file you want to move to the folder you want to move it to

DEL: This deletes a files at a selected directory e.gSET /p input=Please type your input:: This allows the user to write input that later can be used by calling the name of the input (witch is input with is followed by)

CALL: This calls another .bat OR .exe file and then returns control to the first when done e.g CALL C:\Users\User One\Desktop\Batch File.bat.

TITLE: This is followed by text afterwards and changes the title of the DOS window to the text after the command.

EXIT: This command is used to exit the batch file.


Some Batch File Examples:
Example 1 (displays “Hello!”):

@ECHO OFF
:A
ECHO Hello!
PAUSE
GOTO A

Example 2 (displays “Hello!” in purple):

@ECHO OFF
:A
COLOR 5
ECHO Hello!
GOTO A

Example 3 (displays “I Changed the Title!” in the title and “Yay! Look at the Title!”):

@ECHO OFF
TITLE I Changed the Title!
:A
Echo Yay! Look at the Title!
PAUSE
GOTO A

Example 4(“When you press a key, this text will be cleared and then be rewritten so it looks like nothings changed!” and uses CLS):

@ECHO OFF
:A
ECHO When you press a key, this text will be cleared and then be rewritten  so it looks like nothings changed!
PAUSE
CLS
GOTO A

Example 5 (take input(y and n) and uses the IF command):

@ECHO OFF
:A
CLS
ECHO This takes input!
SET /p input=Choose y or n:
IF %input%==y GOTO B
IF %input%==n GOTO C
:B
CLS
ECHO You pressed y.
PAUSE
GOTO A
:C
CLS
ECHO You pressed n.
PAUSE
GOTO A
 

Extra Information :
Start Your .bat File Every Time you Startup your Computer:
1) Create a shortcut to the batch file.
2) Once the shortcut has been created right-click the file and select Cut.
3)Click Start, Programs, right-click the Startup folder and click Open
4)Once the Startup folder has been opened click Edit and paste the shortcut into the startup. Any shortcuts in the startup folder will automatically start each time Windows starts.

How to Make Your .bat File a .exe File:
A .bat file can very easily be made into a .exe file. This can help give you additional abilities such as file versions and keeping the program hidden from the user and/or keep the source of the batch file hidden from the user. We recommend users use the bat_to_exe_converter file to convert their batch files. This utility is free and can be found on THIS LINKY.

Run you .bat File on Full Screen Automaticly:
1) Create a shortcut to the batch file.
2) Once the shortcut has been created right-click it and select Properties.
3) Within the Properties window click the Options tab.
4) In Options select Full screen under the Display options and click Ok.
5) If the batch file is now ran from this shortcut it will run in full screen.

If you’d like to make batch file menus, here’s a good link:
http://http-server.c...mcfet/menu.html

.bat File Command List (Vista):
ASSOC Displays or modifies file extension associations.
ATTRIB Displays or changes file attributes.

BREAK Sets or clears extended CTRL+C checking.
BCDEDIT Sets properties in boot database to control boot loading.

CACLS Displays or modifies access control lists (ACLs) of files.
CALL Calls one batch program from another.
CD Displays the name of or changes the current directory.
CHCP Displays or sets the active code page number.
CHDIR Displays the name of or changes the current directory.
CHKDSK Checks a disk and displays a status report.
CHKNTFS Displays or modifies the checking of disk at boot time.
*CHOICE Batch file command that allows users to select from a set of options.
CIPHER Displays or alters the encryption of directories [files] on NTFS partitions.
CLIP Redirects output of another command to the Windows clipboard.
CLS Clears the screen.
CMD Starts a new instance of the Windows command interpreter.
CMDKEY Creates, lists and deletes stored user names and passwords or credentials.
COLOR Sets the default console foreground and background colors.
COMP Compares the contents of two files or sets of files.
COMPACT Displays or alters the compression of files on NTFS partitions.
CONVERT Converts FAT volumes to NTFS. You cannot convert the current drive.
COPY Copies one or more files to another location.

DATE Displays or sets the date.
DEFRAG Disk defragmenter accessory.
DEL Deletes one or more files.
DIR Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory.
DISKCOMP Compares the contents of two floppy disks.
DISKCOPY Copies the contents of one floppy disk to another.
DISKPART Displays or configures Disk Partition properties.
DOSKEY Edits command lines, recalls Windows commands, and creates macros.
DRIVERQUERY Displays current device driver status and properties.

ECHO Displays messages, or turns command echoing on or off.
ENDLOCAL Ends localization of environment changes in a batch file.
ERASE Deletes one or more files.
EXIT Quits and closes the command shell.
EXPAND Expands one or more compressed files.

FC Compares two files or sets of files, and displays the differences between them.
FIND Searches for a text string in a file or files.
FINDSTR Searches for strings in files.
FOR Runs a specified command for each item in a set.
FORFILES Selects files in a folder for batch processing.
FORMAT Formats a disk for use with Windows.
FSUTIL Displays or configures the file system properties.
FTYPE Displays or modifies file types used in file extension associations.

GOTO Directs the Windows command interpreter to a labeled line in a batch program.
GPRESULT Displays Group Policy information for machine or user.
GRAFTABL Enables Windows to display an extended character set in graphics mode.

HELP Provides Help information for Windows commands.

ICACLS Display, modify, backup, or restore ACLs for files and directories (more here).
IF Performs conditional processing in batch programs.

LABEL Creates, changes, or deletes the volume label of a disk.

MD Creates a directory.
MKDIR Creates a directory.
MKLINK Creates Symbolic Links and Hard Links
MODE Configures a system device.
MORE Displays output one screen at a time.
MOVE Moves one or more files from one directory to another directory.

OPENFILES Queries, displays, or disconnects open files or files opened by network users.

PATH Displays or sets a search path for executable files.
PAUSE Suspends processing of a batch file and displays a message.
POPD Restores the previous value of the current directory saved by PUSHD.
PRINT Prints a text file.
PROMPT Changes the Windows command prompt.
PUSHD Saves the current directory then changes it..

RD Removes a directory.
RECOVER Recovers readable information from a bad or defective disk.
REM Designates comments (remarks) in batch files
REN Renames a file or files.
RENAME Renames a file or files.
REPLACE Replaces files.
RMDIR Removes a directory.
ROBOCOPY Advanced utility to copy files and directory trees.

SET Displays, sets, or removes environment variables for current session.
SETLOCAL Begins localization of environment changes in a batch file.
SETX Sets environment variables.
SC Displays or configures services (background processes).
SCHTASKS Schedules commands and programs to run on a computer.
SHIFT Shifts the position of replaceable parameters in batch files.
SHUTDOWN Allows proper local or remote shutdown of machine.
SORT Sorts input.
START Starts a separate window to run a specified program or command.
SUBST Associates a path with a drive letter.
SYSTEMINFO Displays machine specific properties and configuration.

TAKEOWN Allows an administrator to take ownership of a file (more here).
TASKLIST Displays all currently running tasks including services.
TASKKILL Kill or stop a running process or application.
TIME Displays or sets the system time.
TIMEOUT Pauses the command processor for the specified number of seconds.More here.
TITLEv Sets the window title for a CMD.EXE session.
TREE Graphically displays the directory structure of a drive or path.
TYPE Displays the contents of a text file.

VER Displays the Windows version.
VERIFY Tells Windows whether to verify that your files are written correctly to a disk.
VOL Displays a disk volume label and serial number.
VSSADMIN Volume Shadow Copy Service administration tool
WHERE Displays the location of files that match a search pattern.

XCOPY Copies files and directory trees.

WMIC Displays WMI information inside interactive command shell.