Just like all MS-DOS commands,
all batch file commands are not case
sensitive. However, in the below listing we have listed all commands in all caps to help you
identify what is a command and what is not.
@
Does not echo back the text after the at symbol. This is
most commonly used as @ECHO OFF to prevent any of the commands in the
batch file from being displayed, just the information needed.
%1
The
percent followed by a numeric value, beginning with one, allows
users to add variables within a batch file. The below line
is an example of what can be used in a batch file.
ECHO Hello %1
When the above one-line batch file is created, add your
name after the batch file. For example, typing myname (being the
name of the bat file) and then your name:
myname bob
would output:
Hello bob
Note: This can be
extended to %2, %3, and so on.
:LABEL
By adding a colon in front of a word, such as
LABEL,
you create a category, more commonly known as a
label. This allows
you to skip to certain sections of a batch file such as the end of
the batch file. Also see GOTO.
CALL
This is used to run another batch file within a batch file.
When the batch file that is called is completed, the remainder of the original batch file
is completed. Note if the batch file
does not exist it will give an error message.
Additional information
and the syntax of this command in each version of
Windows and MS-DOS can be found on our CHOICE
command page.
CLS
Just like the DOS command would clear your screen.
Additional information
and the syntax of this command in each version of
Windows and MS-DOS can be found on our CLS
command page.
ECHO
Will echo a message in the batch file. Such as
"ECHO
Hello World" will print: Hello World on the screen when
executed. Note if you have
not typed @ECHO OFF at the beginning of the batch file this will
also print "ECHO Hello
World" and "Hello World". If you would just like to create a blank line, type
ECHO. adding
the period at the end creates an empty line.
EXIT
Exits out of the DOS window if the batch file is running from
Windows.
Additional information
and the syntax of this command in each version of
Windows and MS-DOS can be found on our EXIT
command page.
GOTO LABEL
Used to go to a certain label, such as LABEL. An example of
GOTO would be to GOTO END. For an example of this see running different programs.
Additional information
and the syntax of this command in each version of
Windows and MS-DOS can be found on our GOTO
command page.
IF
Used to check for a certain condition if the condition
exists. If that condition exists it will perform that function. To see an example of this see
running different programs.
Additional information
and the syntax of this command in each version of
Windows and MS-DOS can be found on our IF
command page.
PAUSE
Prompt the user to press any key to continue.
REM
Allows you to place
remarks into the batch file without
displaying or executing that line when the batch file is run.
SHIFT
Changes the position of replaceable parameters in a batch
program.
Additional information
and the syntax of this command in each version of
Windows and MS-DOS can be found on our SHIFT
command page.
START
Used for Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT 4.0 and above to
start a windows application; such as START C:\WINDOW\CALC would run the
Windows Calculator. Users running Windows
3.x need to utilize the WIN command. For example, WIN
C:\Windows\CALC.EXE would run Windows and then Calculator after Windows has finished
loading.
Additional information about the start command can be
found on our start command page.
