Batch Files

Introduction If there is a set of DOS commands that you use frequently, or someone else who doesn't know DOS needs to use them, the commands can be groped together in a BATCH file. The commands will then be executed in the order in which they appear in the file by typing a single command. Almost any DOS command can be used in a BATCH file. BATCH Filenames Batch files always have the file extension .BAT. You can choose any filename except one which is already used by DOS or another piece of software. MYFILE.BAT is a perfectly good filename. FORMAT.BAT is not (because there is a DOS program called format). Running BATCH Files To run a BATCH file you simply type its name - without the extension. So if you have a Batch file called MYFILE.BAT you would simply type MYFILE to run it. Sample BATCH file Here is a simple BATCH file listing: REM FILENAME = TEST.BAT REM This file clears the screen and lists REM your current directory a screen at a time CLS DIR /P Special BATCH commands Nearly all ordinary DOS commands can be included in a BATCH file. In addition, there are some special commands which can only be used in a BATCH file. Some of these are : REM ECHO PAUSE REM This is used to put comments in the batch file to make it easier to understand, e.g.: REM Now get the next file. ECHO

This is used either to write text to the screen during the running of the batch program or to suppress screen output. If you don't have an ECHO command in your batch program all the commands in it will appear in the screen as the program runs. This is not always convenient ECHO OFF - Turns off all the screen output except PAUSE and DOS messages. ECHO ON - Restores printing of the screen output If you want to suppress the ECHO OFF message do this : @ECHO OFF Any selected DOS command can be hidden from the screen with an @ e.g.

@DIR /W PAUSE

This halts the running of the batch program to enable the user to take some action - changing a floppy disk for example. It also prompts the user to make this action e.g.:

PAUSE

Please put the disk in DRIVE A:

This will print the message Please put the disk in DRIVE A: followed by Press any key when ready.

ADVANCED BATCH FILES

The IF Command The IF command is used to control the way the batch file runs depending on the circumstances. User Parameters When you type a parameter after a batchfile mane the parameter can be used within the batch file. Within the file itself %1 is used to specify parameter 1, %2 for parameter 2 etc. Labels

Labels can be used in batchfiles. They always start with a ':' in the left hand column. You can jump to a label with the GOTO command. Here is a very simple example showing the use of an IF statement a parameter and labels. It also shows the use of GOTO:

@ECHO OFF REM statements REM

BATCH Program to show how parameters & if are used

IF "%1" == "YES" GOTO YES ECHO You have NOT typed YES GOTO FINISH :YES ECHO You have typed YES! :FINISH ECHO ON

Generate this as a batch file with a suitable name (TEST.BAT for example) Try running the Batch file by typing TEST, then afterwards try running it by typing TEST YES. Try making the YES lowercase. What happens? The FORDO command This is used to repeat a series of DOS commands using parameters specified within the program. The parameters are specified like this : FOR %%a IN (PARAM1 PARAM2 PARAM3) DO etc.. %%a becomes PARAM1 on the first pass, PARAM2 on the second pass, PARAM3 on the third pass. After the DO comes any valid DOS command. For example, to delete all files with the names TEMP.*, NEW.* and NEXT.* FOR &&a IN (TEMP NEW NEXT) DO DEL %%a.* Instead of %%a you can also use %%b, %%c etc.

Computer Architecture
Using batch files for screen control It is easily possible to control the colour of your screen and/or the position of the courser using batch files providing the ANSI.SYS screen driver is installed. If you are using your machine at home you need the like:

DEVICE=C:\DOS\ANSI.SYS or DEVICE =C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\ANSI.SYS in your CONFIG.SYS file ANSI escape sequences All ANSI escape sequences commence like this : ESCape key, the [

This cannot be done directly from the DOS prompt since ESCape simply clears whatever you have just typed. What you have to do is use the ECHO command to write the ESCape sequence to the screen from within a batch file If you are using EDIT to generate the batch file, you need to hold the CTRL key down and press P, then ESCape. What appears on the screen when you do this is !. Screen Codes Here are the screen codes for the different colours, etc. 0 1 5 6 8 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 Default (white text, black background) Bright text Flashing text Reverse text Concealed text (Useful for passwords!) Black text Red text Green text Yellow text Blue text Magenta text Cyan text White text Black background Red background Green background Yellow background Blue background Magenta background Cyan background White background

Examples The escape sequences need to be sent to the screen from a batch file using the ECHO command. Here are some examples: To set the system to show in Red, against a Green background ECHO [31;42m

To reset the system to display the text in normal format ECHO [0m To set the system to show text in bright yellow and flashing ECHO [5;33m

In every case the is produces by holding CTRL and typing P, and then hitting the ESCape key. (in EDIT) The following batch file is called SCREEN.BAT. enter and run It.

@Echo off REM colours REM REM REM

Screen control batchfile which sets up Two parameters supplied First one is text colour Second one is background colour

REM deal with no parameters situation using flashing message in bold IF "%1" == " " GOTO MESS1 REM else set text to desired colour, etc Echo [%1m REM Deal with no second parameter IF "%2" == " " GOTO FINISH REM Else set Background colour Echo [%2m GOTO FINISH REM Write Flashing bright yellow error message :MESS1 Echo [5;33;1m CLS Echo NO PARAMETERS SUPPLIED! REM Then reset to normal text and usual prompt Echo [0m GOTO FINISH :FINISH

You run the file by typing SCREEN followed by up tow numbers taken from the list above which set the text and background colours to what ever you want. For example SCREEN 31 43 - Gives you red text on a yellow background. Try various numbers, and also see that happened if you forget to provide any, by just typing SCREEN. Try out these! Write a batch file called NAME.BAT that writes your name in flashing bright red on the screen. Write a batch file called BACK.BAT which makes all text appear in bright yellow

against a red background.

Moving the cursor and re-assigning keys

ESCape sequences can also be used to control the screen position of the cursor and change what the keys do. Cursor position commands end with a A, B, C, D, or H and key assignments ones with a p. Controlling Cursor Position Remembering that the is obtained by pressing CTRL + P and then ESCape, here are some examples: 'A' moves the cursor up a specified number of lines: ECHO [5Amarvin

This moves the cursor up 5 lines and then prints 'marvin' on the screen 'B' moves the cursor down a specified number of lines: ECHO [7Bslarty

This moves the cursor down 7 lines and prints 'italic' in the screen 'C' moves the cursor right a specified number of columns 'D' moves the cursor left a specified number of spaces 'H' moves the cursor to a specified row and column position: ECHO [13;40Hxrmx

This moves the cursor to row 13, column 40 and prints 'xrmx' on the screen

Reassigning Key
You can reassign keys like this: ECHO ["a";"b"p

When you run this and press 'a' you will get 'b'. The following batch program called ATOB.BAT does both upper and lower case As: @ECHO OFF

REM ECHO ECHO

Make the 'A' key in to a 'B' key ["A";"B"p ["a";"b"p

N.B. Make sure you make a BTOA.BAT file as well other wise you will need to reboot your computer to get back A

Programming the function Keys

In the same way that you can change what the normal keys do, you can also re-assign any of the other keys providing you know what their codes are. The Functions keys F1 to F12 These are so-called soft keys and are often programmed to provide special functions. These keys have special 'extended' codes both when used alone and when combined with SHIFT, CTRL or ALT. Here is the list:

SHIFT + CTRL + ALT + F1 0;59 F2 0;60 F3 0;61 F4 0;62 F5 0;63 F6 0;64 F7 0;65 F8 0;66 F9 0;67 F10 0;68 F11 0;133 F12 0;134
How to Program a function key You simply use the usual ESCape sequence. For example, suppose you want to press F10 instead of typing DIR/p: ECHO [0;68;"DIR/p";13p

0;84 0;85 0;86 0;87 0;88 0;89 0;90 0;91 0;92 0;93 0;135 0;136

0;94 0;95 0;96 0;97 0;98 0;99 0;100 0;101 0;102 0;103 0;137 0;138

0;104 0;105 0;106 0;107 0;108 0;109 0;110 0;111 0;112 0;113 0;139 0;140

The 13 at the end is an ENTER. If you don't put this in, you will need to press ENTER after F10.

An Example Here is a batch program that reassigns two Function keys and gives you a menu:

@ECHO OFF REM Reassign F1 to list current directory REM Reassign F10 to give DOS version ECHO ECHO [0;59;"DIR/w/p";13p [0;68;"VER";13p

REM Now Put a menu on the Screen in Bright Yellow CLS ECHO [1;33m ECHO [12;20HF1 List Current directory ECHO [14;20HF10 Print DOS Version Number REM ECHO Reset display to normal [0m

Type this file in (menu1.bat) and run it. Press F1. This will give a directory listing. Press F10. The DOS Version will be displayed