In this tutorial, you will learn about batch file commands and how they are used in batch file scripting or programming.

If Exist Goto Batch File
Goto Batch Files File
Goto Batch Files Download

GOTO:menuLOOP::-:: menu functions follow below here::-:menu1 Have some fun echo.Have some fun by adding some more code right here GOTO:EOF:menu2 Get a water echo.Get a water and then add some code right here GOTO:EOF:menu:menuT Tip echo.It's easy to add a line separator using one or more fake labels GOTO:EOF:menuC Clear Screen cls. You may want to copy files from one place to another. In this example we'll teach you. You can use the command xcopy.The syntax is xcopy c:From C:To. Example: @echo off xcopy C:Foldertext.txt C:UserUsernameDesktop.

As discussed in the previous tutorial, a batch file is an unformatted text file or script file which contains multiple batch file commands or instructions to achieve a certain task. It has extension of .bat or .cmd.

Click here to go through the introduction of the batch file before learning batch file commands.

Batch file commands: Windows/DOS

For the ease of learning, we have listed all the batch file commands with relevant examples and explanations below. Please click on the commands to know the details.

ASSOC	ATTRIB	CD	CHKDSK	CHOICE
CLS	CMD	COMP	CONVERT	COPY
DATE	DEL	DIR	DISKPART	DRIVERQUERY
ECHO	EXIT	EXPAND	FC	FIND
FORMAT	HELP	IPCONFIG	LABEL	MD
MORE	MOVE	NET	PAUSE	PING
RD	REM	REN	SET	SHUTDOWN
SORT	START	SYSTEMINFO	TASKKILL	TASKLIST
TIME	TITLE	TREE	TYPE	VER
VOL	XCOPY

Note: Batch file commands are not case sensitive

ASSOC

The batch command ASSOC associates a file extension with a file type, or list all associations.

Example

Output

As shown in above output, it displays the file association for .txt extension.

If only ASSOC is written and executed, it will display all the file associations for every extension, instead of just .txt extension.

ATTRIB

The batch command ATTRIB is used to display the file attributes or set an attribute to a file in the working directory.

Example

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Now let us suppose we have a file note.txt in our working directory. We will display its file attributes and then make it hidden and read only by adding 'ah' and 'r' attributes to it. And finally, we will remove some attributes we added as well.

Output

Here in this output, A means Archived, R means Read only and AH means Hidden file.

CD

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

Example

Output

CHKDSK

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

Example

CHOICE

The batch command CHOICE provides a list of options to the user.

Example

Output

Now that script will produce following output.

Now the console waits for your input and once you enter your answer it will terminate.

CLS

The batch command CLS clears the screen.

Example

This command just clears all the logs in command prompt screen.

CMD

The batch command CMD invokes a new command prompt window.

Example

COMP

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

Example

CONVERT

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

Example

COPY

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

Example

DATE

The batch command DATE displays the current date in the system.

Example

Output

This command DATE displays system date in command prompt as shown above.

DEL

The batch command DEL is used for deleting files.

Example

Note: DEL command only deletes files, not directories.

DIR

The batch command DIR lists all the contents of directories.

Example

DISKPART

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

Example

This script will ask for users permission to check the properties of disk partition and if allowed, will display following output in the console depending on disk properties.

DRIVERQUERY

The batch command DRIVERQUERY displays all the drivers installed and their properties.

Example

Output

This output shows the fraction of drivers list with their properties and installed date. DRIVERQUERY command shows all the drivers list, which is huge.

ECHO

The batch command ECHO is used for echoing commands on/off and printing message to the console.

Example

Output

This command ECHO displays Hello in the console as shown above.

Besides printing message, echo is also used for deciding whether or not to display the command itself. Like in this example as well, in the first line we have turned OFF echo, which makes sure that commands themselves are not printed.

If that echo wasn’t turned off, then the output would have been like:

EXIT

The batch command EXIT terminates and exits the console.

Example

In this example, as soon as HI is printed in the console, EXIT command will terminate the program and close the output console.

EXPAND

The batch command EXPAND extracts the contents of .cab file.

Example

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

FC

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

Example

This script will find the difference in the content of both files and list out all of them.

FIND

The batch command FIND search the given file to find the desired string and if located, it displays the corresponding line in which the string exists.

Example

This script will search for the string “find me” in example.txt file and if it exists in example.txt, it will display the corresponding line on the console.

FORMAT

The batch command FORMAT is used for formatting a drive of format FAT 16/32 or NTFS in Windows.

Example

This script will format E drive and overwrite previous contents.

HELP

This might be the one of the most important batch file commands because with this HEL

Goto Batchfiles