LEARN COMMAND LINE AND

BATCH SCRIPT FAST

D Armstrong

1
For more information on a specific command, type HELP command-name

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.
CLS --- Clears the screen.
CMD --- Starts a new instance of the Windows command interpreter.
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.
DEL --- Deletes one or more files.
DIR --- Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory.
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 the CMD.EXE program (command interpreter).
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 file in a set of files.
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.
IF --- Performs conditional processing in batch programs.
LABEL --- Creates, changes, or deletes the volume label of a disk.

2
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 --- Displays files opened by remote users for a file share.
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 --- Records comments (remarks) in batch files or CONFIG.SYS.
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 Windows environment variables.
SETLOCAL --- Begins localization of environment changes in a batch file.
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.
TASKLIST --- Displays all currently running tasks including services.
TASKKILL --- Kill or stop a running process or application.
TIME --- Displays or sets the system time.
TITLE --- 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.
XCOPY --- Copies files and directory trees.
WMIC --- Displays WMI information inside interactive command shell.

3
VOLUME 1

1YourVersion.bat
PROMPT $V$G$S

2ColorCode.bat
COLOR 17

3custom.bat
COLOR 0A
TITLE Command Testing
CLS

4custom2.bat
CD "E:\3. Mine\Batch Script\Volume_1"
CLS

5twoLines.bat
@echo off

ECHO. & ECHO.

6clearFile.bat
@echo off

ECHO. > file0.txt

7sysInfo.bat
@echo off

SYSTEMINFO > sysInfo.txt

8gather.bat
@echo off

VOL >> gather.txt

VER >> gather.txt
HOSTNAME >> gather.txt

9backup.bat
@echo off

TYPE %1.txt > %1.bak

10logIn.bat
@echo off

SET /p input= Enter text to add to log file:

ECHO At %time% on %date%, %username% logged: %input% >> log.txt

4
ECHO log updated

11logOut.bat
@echo off

SET /p input= Enter command to log results for:

ECHO The command "%input%" returned: >> logOut.txt

ECHO. >> logOut.txt

%input% >> logOut.txt

ECHO. >> logOut.txt

ECHO log updated

PAUSE

12logErr.bat
@echo off

SET /p input= Enter command to log errors for:

REM run command and save its error text in a temporary file
%input% 2> tempErrLog.txt

IF %errorlevel% == 0 (ECHO No error logged) ELSE (

REM copy the command and its result to a permanent log file
ECHO At %time%, the command "%input%" return: >> logErr.txt

TYPE tempErrLog.txt >> logErr.txt

REM add blank lines to separate entires

ECHO. >> logErr.txt
ECHO error log updated
)

REM delete the temparary file's contents

ECHO. > tempErrlog.txt

PAUSE

13mod.bat
@echo off

SET /A output = %1 %% %2

ECHO %output%

5
14divideA.bat
@echo off

SET /A output = %1 / %2

ECHO %output%

15square.bat
@echo off

SET /A output = %1 * %1

ECHO %output%

16getIP.bat
@echo off

REM get device number

SET /P num= enter device number:

REM calculate 3rd IP number

SET /A IP3 = num / 256

REM calculale 4th IP number

SET /A IP4 = num %% 256

REM output complete IP address

ECHO 1.2.%IP3%.%IP4%

17left10.bat
@echo off

SET string=%1

ECHO %string:~0,10%

18right10.bat
@echo off

SET string=%1

ECHO %string:~-10%

19char3.bat
@echo off

SET string=%1

ECHO %string:~2,1%

6
20trim.bat
@echo off

SET string=%1

ECHO %string: = %

21UKtoUS.bat
@echo off

SET /P string= < ebook.txt

SET string=%string:colour=color%
SET string=%string:flat=apartment%

ECHO %string% > ebook1.txt

PAUSE

22writer.bat
@echo off

COLOR 0D

:start

SET /P msg= Enter your message:

ECHO %username% says: %msg% >> chat.txt

GOTO start

23reader.bat
@echo off

:start

TYPE chat.txt
TIMEOUT 3 > nul

GOTO start

24flush.bat
@echo off

ECHO. > chat.txt

25writer2.bat
@echo off

COLOR 0D

7
:start

SET /P msg= Enter your message:

ECHO %username% says: %msg:&=^&% >> chat.txt

GOTO start

26isHere.bat
@echo off

IF EXIST %1 (ECHO file found) ELSE ECHO file not found

27divideB.bat
@echo off

IF %2 == 0 (
SET output=Infinity
) ELSE (
SET /A output = %1 / %2
)

ECHO %output%

28absA.bat
@echo off

SET /A output= %1 - %2

IF %output% LSS 0 SET /A output*= -1

ECHO %output%

29absB.bat
@echo off

IF %1 GTR %2 (
SET /A output= %1 - %2
) ELSE (
SET /A output= %2 - %1
)

ECHO %output%

30info.bat
@echo off

ECHO The Information Interface

ECHO.

ECHO Options:

8
ECHO 1 - Display version of Windows
ECHO 2 - Display volume details
ECHO 3 - Display name of host device

ECHO.

SET /P input= Enter a number from 1 to 3 and press enter:

IF %input% == 1 VER
IF %input% == 2 VOL
IF %input% == 3 HOSTNAME

PAUSE

31info2.bat
@echo off

ECHO The Information Interface

ECHO.

ECHO Options:

ECHO 1 - Display version of Windows

ECHO 2 - Display volume details
ECHO 3 - Display name of host device

ECHO.

:choose
SET /P input= Enter a number from 1 to 3 and press enter:

IF NOT "%input:~1%" == "" ECHO Too many characters entered! & GOTO
choose
IF %input% GTR 3 ECHO Too high! & GOTO choose
IF %input% LSS 1 ECHO Too low! & GOTO choose

IF %input% == 1 VER
IF %input% == 2 VOL
IF %input% == 3 HOSTNAME

PAUSE

9
VOLUME 2

1scanLogs.bat
@echo off

MORE logs\log*.txt

PAUSE

2sortFile.bat
@echo off

SORT %1.txt /O %1.txt

3sortFileR.bat
@echo off

SORT %1.txt /R /O %1.txt

4mismatchTotal.bat
@echo off

FIND /I /V /C "%1" %2

5bootTime.bat
@echo off

SYSTEMINFO | FIND /I "boot time"

6justOS.bat
@echo off

SYSTEMINFO | FINDSTR /B OS

7commas.bat
@echo off

FINDSTR "1,*000" test.txt

PAUSE

8twoWords.bat
@echo off

FINDSTR "alert.*error" test.txt

PAUSE

9ending.bat
@echo off

10
FINDSTR "1$" test.txt

PAUSE

10beginning.bat
@echo off

FINDSTR "^2" test.txt

PAUSE

11endInDigit.bat
@echo off

FINDSTR "[0-9]$" test.txt

PAUSE

12endIn1Digit.bat
@echo off

FINDSTR "[^0-9][0-9]$" test.txt

PAUSE

13zipCode.bat
@echo off

FINDSTR "^[0-9][0-9][0-9][0-9][0-9]$" test.txt

PAUSE

14labelsOnly.bat
@echo off

::this is a comment, a label is on the line below

:label1

REM this is a comment too, a label is on the line below

:label2

FINDSTR "^:[^:]" 14labelsOnly.bat

PAUSE

15getCSVs.bat
@echo off

11
FINDSTR "\.csv" test.txt

PAUSE

16trickyEnd.bat
@echo off

FINDSTR /R /C:" .$" test.txt

PAUSE

17checkInput_NOTOK.bat
@echo off

:begin

SET /P input= Enter a variable:

IF NOT DEFINED input GOTO begin

ECHO You entered %input%

PAUSE

18makeDummy.bat
@echo off

REM Present user with options

:begin

ECHO Dummy file generator

ECHO.
ECHO Choose a file type. Enter:
ECHO 1 for .txt
ECHO 2 for .csv
ECHO 3 for .html
SET /P fileType= Enter a type?

REM Make time variable 10:02:31.69 --> 100231.69 --> 10023169

SET timeMade=%time::=%
SET timeMade=%timeMade:.=%

REM Choose dummy file type, and make it

GOTO case%fileType%

:case1
ECHO. > file%timeMade%.txt
GOTO begin

12
 :case2
ECHO. > file%timeMade%.csv
GOTO begin

:case3
ECHO. > file%timeMade%.html
GOTO begin

==========
@echo off
Set "_var=first"
Set "_var=second" & Echo %_var% !_var!
--> first !_var!

@echo off
SETLOCAL EnableDelayedExpansion
Set "_var=first"
Set "_var=second" & Echo %_var% !_var!
--> first second

@echo off
SETLOCAL EnableDelayedExpansion
Set "_var=Old"
For /L %%G in (1,1,3) Do (
Set "_var=New"
Echo [%_var%] is now [!_var!]
)
-->
[Old] is now [New]
[Old] is now [New]
[Old] is now [New]
==========

19stringReplace.bat
@echo off

SET string=%3

SETLOCAL ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION

ECHO !string:%1=%2!

20makeDummy2.bat
@echo off

SETLOCAL ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION

REM Define file type variables

SET fileType1=txt

13
SET fileType2=csv

SET fileType3=html

REM Present options to user

:begin

ECHO Dummy file generator

ECHO.
ECHO Choose a file type. Enter:
ECHO 1 for %fileType1%
ECHO 2 for %fileType2%
ECHO 3 for %fileType3%
SET /P num= Enter a type?

REM generate time variable

SET timeMade=%time::=%
SET timeMade=%timeMade:.=%

ECHO. > file%timeMade%.!fileType%num%!

GOTO begin

21restore.bat
@echo off

DEL %1.txt

REN %1.bak %1.txt

22safeRestore.bat
@echo off

IF EXIST %1.bak (DEL %1.txt) ELSE EXIT /B 1

REN %1.bak %1.txt

23parent.bat
@echo off

ECHO Attemting to restore file %1.txt

CALL 22safeRestore %1

GOTO Case%errorlevel%

:Case0
ECHO File restored
EXIT /B

14
 :Case1
ECHO There is no backup file to restore from

24mkdirs.bat
@echo off

SET /P setup=Press 'S' to create side-by-side, or 'W' to create

within each other:

GOTO Case%setup%

:CaseS
MKDIR %1
MKDIR %2
MKDIR %3
EXIT /B

:CaseW
MKDIR %1\%2\%3

25restoreDir.bat
@echo off

RMDIR /S /Q %1

MOVE %1_bak %1

26clearAll.bat
ATTRIB -r -h /D /S

27myCopy.bat
COPY test.txt folder\NewName.txt

28backup.bat
@echo off

COPY folder\*txt folder\*.bak

29restoreAll.bat
@echo off

DEL *.txt

REN *.bak *.txt

30safeRestoreAll.bat
@echo off

COPY /Y *.bak *.txt

15
DEL *.bak

31backupDir.bat
@echo off

XCOPY /s /e /i %1 %1_bak

16
VOLUME 3

1copyToMap.bat
@echo off

SUBST Y: "\\10.84.30.64\E$\3. Mine\Batch

Script\Volume_3\mapFolder"

REM IP address checked with 'IPCONFIG'

REM Folder path copied in from Windows Explorer

REM ':' after drive letter replaced with '$'

COPY file1.txt Y:

SUBST /D Y:

2callLogMe.bat
@echo off

CALL 3logMe %0

REM If this was not just a test script...

REM ... the rest of the script would go here.

ECHO Script completed!

PAUSE

3logMe.bat
ECHO %1 ran at %time% on %date% >> log.txt

4fileInfo.bat
@echo off

REM ~x is file type, "1" is file of 1st parameter, "0" is file

running
ECHO %~x1

REM ~z is file size, "1" is file of 1st parameter, "0" is file

running
ECHO %~z1

PAUSE

5doProcess.bat
@echo off

17
TITLE %0

START 6getData

TIMEOUT /T 3

ECHO finished > processDone.txt

DIR

PAUSE

6getData.bat
TITLE %0

HOSTNAME

DIR

PAUSE

7doProcess2.bat
@echo off

TITLE %0

ECHO finished > processDone.txt

DIR

PAUSE

8getData2.bat
TITLE %0

HOSTNAME

DIR

START 7doProcess2

PAUSE

9doProcess3.bat
@echo off

TITLE %0

DEL processDone.txt

DEL goAhead.txt

18
START 10getData3

:startLoop

TIMEOUT /T 3

IF NOT EXIST goAhead.txt GOTO startLoop

ECHO finished > processDone.txt

DIR

PAUSE

10getData3.bat
TITLE %0

HOSTNAME

DIR

PAUSE

REM The 'pause' above is only for testing. You would delete it
after that.

ECHO.>goAhead.txt

PAUSE

11listServices.bat
@echo off

REM eq (==), ne (!=), gt (>), lt (<), ge (>=), le (<=)

TASKLIST /FI "SessionName eq Services"

PAUSE

12getImageName.bat
@echo off

TASKLIST /FO csv | sort > list1.csv

ECHO Open a program then press enter

PAUSE > nul

TASKLIST /FO csv | sort > list2.csv

ECHO Delete the other columns in both files, then press enter.

19
PAUSE > nul

ECHO The difference is:

FC list1.csv list2.csv

PAUSE

13closeExcel.bat
@echo off

TASKKILL /IM excel.exe

PAUSE

14raw.bat
FOR %%i IN (*.txt *.csv) DO ECHO %%i >> %%i

15list.bat
FOR %%i IN (*) DO ECHO %%i >> list.csv

16list2.bat
FOR %%i IN (*) DO ECHO %%i >> list.csv & ECHO %%i >> list.txt

17makeIPs.bat
@echo off

FOR /L %%i IN (101, 1, 105) DO SET IP%%i = 1.2.3.%%i

ECHO IP101 = %IP101%

ECHO IP102 = %IP102%

ECHO IP103 = %IP103%

ECHO IP104 = %IP104%

ECHO IP105 = %IP105%

PAUSE

18countFiles.bat
@echo off

SET count = 0

SETLOCAL ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION

FOR %%i IN (*) DO (

20
 SET /A count = !count! + 1
ECHO File!count!: %%i
)

PAUSE

19top3.bat
@echo off

SET count = 0

SETLOCAL ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION

FOR %%i IN (*) DO (

SET /A count = !count! + 1

ECHO File!count!: %%i
IF !count! == 3 EXIT /B
)

PAUSE

20getColumn3.bat
@echo off

FOR /F "tokens=3 delims=," %%i IN (list2.csv) DO ECHO %%i

PAUSE

21get1Line.bat
@echo off

REM "skip=1" means skip the first 1 line, "goto next" means get
2nd line and exit from for loop

FOR /F "tokens=* skip=1" %%i IN (list2.csv) DO ECHO %%i & GOTO

next

:next

PAUSE

22getLineNum.bat
@echo off

REM Calculate number of lines to skip

SET /A skipVal = %1 - 1

REM Skip that many lines, display the next line

21
FOR /F "tokens=* skip=%skipVal%" %%i IN (list2.csv) DO ECHO %%i &
GOTO next

:next

PAUSE

23getAnyLineNum.bat
@echo off

REM If line 1 is requested, display it (don't skip any lines)

IF %1==1 FOR /F "tokens=*" %%i IN (list2.csv) DO ECHO %%i & GOTO

next

REM Calculate number of lines to skip

SET /A skipVal = %1 - 1

REM Skip that many lines, display the next line

FOR /F "tokens=* skip=%skipVal%" %%i IN (list2.csv) DO ECHO %%i &

GOTO next

:next

PAUSE

24getValue.bat
@echo off

REM If a value in line 1 is requested, display it (don't skip any

lines)

IF %1==1 FOR /F "tokens=%2 delims=," %%i IN (list2.csv) DO ECHO

%%i & GOTO next

REM Calculate number of lines to skip

SET /A skipVal = %1 - 1

REM Skip that many lines, display the selected value from the next
line

FOR /F "tokens=%2 skip=%skipVal% delims=," %%i IN (list2.csv) DO

ECHO %%i & GOTO next

:next

PAUSE

22
25reverse.bat
@echo off

FOR /F "tokens=1-3 delims=," %%i IN (list2.csv) DO ECHO

%%k,%%j,%%i

PAUSE

26columnSwap.bat
FOR /F "tokens=1-3 delims=," %%i IN (list2.csv) DO ECHO
%%k,%%j,%%i >> list3.csv

TYPE list3.csv > list2.csv

DEL list3.csv

27mainReplace.bat
@echo off

fOR /F "tokens=*" %%I IN (sysInfo.txt) DO ECHO %%I | CALL

29lineReplace1

PAUSE

28lineReplace.bat
@echo off

SET /P string=%*

ECHO %string%

29lineReplace1.bat
@echo off

SET /P string=%*

ECHO %string:Microsoft=Apple%

30mainReplace2.bat
@echo off

fOR /F "tokens=*" %%I IN (sysInfo.txt) DO ECHO %%I | CALL

31lineReplace2

TYPE temp.txt > sysInfo.txt

DEL temp.txt

31lineReplace2.bat
@echo off

23
SET /P string=%*

ECHO %string:Microsoft=Apple% >> temp.txt

32get.bat
ECHO Parameter zero is: > %0

--> After running, now the content of the file is "Parameter zero
is: "

33get0.bat
@echo off

ECHO Parameter zero is: ^> %0

REM '^' escapes '>', preventing the batch file redirecting text
and overwriting itself

PAUSE

34easyShifter.bat
@echo off

SET var8 = %8

SHIFT /8

SET var9 = %8

SHIFT /8

SET var10 = %8

ECHO The first 7 parameters are: %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7

ECHO var8 = %var8%

ECHO var9 = %var9%

ECHO var10 = %var10%

PAUSE

35Shifter.bat
@echo off

SET num= 8

:startLoop

SET var%num% = %8

24
 SHIFT /8
SET /A num += 1

IF NOT "%8" == "" GOTO startLoop

ECHO The first 7 parameters are: %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7

SET /A num -= 1

SETLOCAL ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION

FOR /L %%I IN (8, 1, %num%) DO ECHO var%%I is !var%%I!

PAUSE

36asterisk.bat
@echo off

ECHO %0 %* >> log.txt

25