How to Write a Batch File

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Open Notepad.

   Notepad allows you to create code as a text file and then save it when you're done as a batch file.
   
   You can open Notepad by clicking Start → Programs → Accessories → Notepad.
   
   You can also enter notepad into the Run box. , Batch files run a series of DOS commands, so the commands that you can use are similar to DOS commands.
   
   Some of the more important ones include:
   ECHO
   - Displays text on the screen @ECHO OFF
   - Hides the text that is normally output START
   - Run a file with it's default application REM
   - Inserts a comment line in the program MKDIR/RMDIR
   - Create and remove directories DEL
   - Deletes a file or files COPY
   - Copy a file or files XCOPY
   - Allows you to copy files with extra options FOR/IN/DO
   - This command lets you specify files.
   
   TITLE
   - Edit the title of the window. , One of the easiest ways to learn how to create batch files is to focus on doing basic tasks first.
   
   For example, you can use a batch file to quickly create multiple directories:
   MKDIR c:\example1 MKDIR c:\example2 , Once you have entered your code, you can save the file using the Batch filetype.
   
   Click File → Save As.
   
   Click the "Save as type" dropdown menu.
   
   Select "All files".
   
   Enter a name for the program followed by .bat or .cmd.
   
   Make sure the encoding is ANSI and save the file , Batch files are great for running multiple commands, especially if you configure it to be able to run multiple times.
   
   With the XCOPY command, you can make a batch file that copies files from select folders to a backup folder, only overwriting files that have been updated since the last copy: @ECHO OFF XCOPY c:\original c:\backupfolder /m /e /y This copies over files from the folder "original" to the folder "backupfolder".
   
   You can replace these with the paths to the folders you want. /m specifies that only updated files will be copied, /e specifies that all subdirectories in the listed directory will be copied, and /y keeps the confirmation message appearing every time a file is overwritten. , Once you have entered your code, you can save the file using the Batch filetype.
   
   Click File → Save As.
   
   Click the "Save as type" dropdown menu.
   
   Select "All files".
   
   Enter a name for the program followed by .bat or .cmd. , While simply copying the files from one folder to another is nice, what if you want to do a little sorting at the same time? That's where the FOR/IN/DO command comes in.
   
   You can use that command to tell a file where to go depending on the extension: @ECHO OFF cd c:\source REM This is the location of the files that you want to sort FOR %%f IN (*.doc *.txt) DO XCOPY c:\source\"%%f" c:\text /m /y REM This moves any files with a .doc or REM .txt extension from c:\source to c:\text REM %%f is a variable FOR %%f IN (*.jpg *.png *.bmp) DO XCOPY C:\source\"%%f" c:\images /m /y REM This moves any files with a .jpg, .png, REM or .bmp extension from c:\source to c:\images , Once you have entered your code, you can save the file using the Batch filetype.
   
   Click File → Save As.
   
   Click the "Save as type" dropdown menu.
   
   Select "All files".
   
   Enter a name for the program followed by .bat or .cmd.
2. 2

   Step 2: Learn some basic batch commands.

3. 3

   Step 3: Write a program to create a directory.

4. 4

   Step 4: Save the file.

5. 5

   Step 5: Write the code to make a basic backup program.

6. 6

   Step 6: Save the file.

7. 7

   Step 7: Write a more advanced backup program.

8. 8

   Step 8: Save the file.

Detailed Guide

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