How to Use the Microsoft Batch File Language

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Open your text editor.

   Expect to use keys A-Z/0-9/, the symbols (!$| etc), and Enter.
   
   Most commands do not check entry for upper/lowercase, so for the moment don't worry about CAPS (or cApS).
   
   Each command (and its parameters) goes on one line.
   
   Open a command line window (cmd.exe) to test the commands you want to run.
   
   Arrange your windows so you can see them both.
2. 2

   Step 2: Start writing the file.

   To start writing the file, most people start with @echo off as it stops each command being printed as it is processed.
   
   It reduces clutter on the user's screen.(This section does some hand-holding.
   
   If you want the finished script, jump to the next section.) : @echo OFF , Remember to press enter after each command., Type: : echo Welcome TO the Backup Script! , Good., : echo. ,, This code below gives the user a choice.
   
   Either they press F, or N, or they press Q or CTRL-Z which cancels the whole script. : choice /C:
   FNQ /N SELECT ull Backup OR ew FILES only.
   
   Press OR TO EXIT. , If the user presses Q the program returns a "3"
   
   and goes to section "end".
   
   If they press N the program returns a "2"
   
   and goes to section "small_backup".
   
   If they press F, the program returns a "1"
   
   and goes to "full_backup". "Errorlevel" is not a error message as such, just the only way to set output from the CHOICE command. :
   IF errorlevel 3 GOTO END :
   IF errorlevel 2 GOTO small_backup :
   IF errorlevel 1 GOTO full_backup , Type: : :small_backup<br> : echo. : echo. : echo You chose TO backup NEW FILES.
   
   Hit ANY KEY TO start OR ctrl-z TO cancel. pause >nul xcopy c:\mydirectory d:\mybackup /s/m/e GOTO END : :full_backup<br> : echo. : echo. : echo You chose TO backup ALL FILES.
   
   Hit ANY KEY TO start OR ctrl-z TO cancel. pause >nul xcopy c:\mydirectory d:\mybackup /s/e goto end  :end exit </source> Create the directories referred to above, and copy a few small test files into the source directory ready for testing.
   
   Later you can change those directory names to suit your real <my documents="">. ,,, @echo OFF echo Welcome TO the Backup Script! echo. choice /C:
   FN /N SELECT ull Backup OR ew FILES Backup, OR ctrl-z TO EXIT.
   
   IF errorlevel 3 GOTO END IF errorlevel 2 GOTO small_backup IF errorlevel 1 GOTO full_backup :small_backup echo. echo. echo You chose TO backup NEW FILES.
   
   Hit ANY KEY TO start OR ctrl-z TO EXIT. pause >nul xcopy c:\mydirectory d:\mybackup /s/m/e GOTO END :full_backup echo. echo. echo You chose TO backup ALL FILES.
   
   Hit ANY KEY TO start OR ctrl-z TO EXIT. pause >nul xcopy c:\mydirectory d:\mybackup /s/e GOTO END :
   END EXIT
3. 3

   Step 3: Hit enter.

4. 4

   Step 4: Welcome the user to the program.

5. 5

   Step 5: Hit enter again?

6. 6

   Step 6: Leave a blank line for neat spacing then continue typing yet another line.

7. 7

   Step 7: Press Enter one more time.

8. 8

   Step 8: Program what options you want the person who runs your program to see.

9. 9

   Step 9: Create commands for each choice.

10. 10

    Step 10: Create those sections referred to above.

11. 11

    Step 11: Save the file in Notepad as "mybackup.bat".

12. 12

    Step 12: Double-click the file to run it.

13. 13

    Step 13: Practice your copy & pasting skills on the following text.

Detailed Guide

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