Module 1: Introduction to Batch Scripts

Introduction 1.1:

Batch scripts, also known as batch files or batch programming, are

scripts written in the Windows Command Prompt (CMD) language. They
allow users to automate sequences of commands, perform repetitive tasks,
and execute multiple commands sequentially in a text file with the
extension ".bat" or ".cmd". These scripts are essentially a series of
commands that the Command Prompt can execute in order, one after the
other.

Batch scripts are particularly useful for automating tasks, such as file management, system
administration, application installation, or configuration changes. They are simple to create and can be
run without the need for a dedicated programming environment.

Introduction 1.2:
OVERVIEW
To automate command sequences that are repetitive in nature, batch script is included.
Using scripting, one can eliminate this requirement by automating these command sequences to make
life at the shell simpler and more efficient. The majority of businesses use batch script in some capacity
to automate processes. Batch scripts are kept in plain text files with lines of commands that are
performed one after the other in order. These files have the unique BAT or CMD extension. The
command interpreter is a system file that provides an interface (sometimes referred to as a shell)
through which files of this type are recognized and run. This interpreter is known as cmd.exe on
Windows platforms. It only takes a single click to execute a batch file. The Start-Run line or a command
prompt can also be used to execute batch files. Unless the file's path is in the path environment in this
situation, the entire path name must be utilized. Here is a straightforward batch script example. When
this batch script is executed, all files in the current directory are deleted.

BATCH SCRIPT FEATURES

 can read user inputs so that more processing can be done with them.
 contains control constructs like for, if, while, and switch to improve automation and
scripting.
 advanced features such as Functions and Arrays are supported.
 regular expressions are supported.
 other programming languages, such as Perl, can be included.
 COMMON USE OF BATCH SCRIPT

 setting up servers for various uses.

 housekeeping tasks such as eliminating unneeded files or log files can be automated.
 automating application deployment from one environment to another.
 installing apps on many PCs at the same time.

ENVIRONMENT

Writing & Executing

Notepad is commonly used to create batch files. This is the most basic tool for creating
batch files. The batch scripts' execution environment is next. This is done on Windows systems using the
command prompt or cmd.exe. In this environment, all batch files are executed.

Different Ways to Launch cmd.exe

Method 1 - Navigate to C:WindowsSystem32 and double-click the cmd.exe file.

Method 2 - Using the run command - The screenshot below illustrates how to locate the command
prompt (cmd.exe) on Windows.

The following screen will appear once cmd.exe has been opened. This is the environment in
which your batch scripts will run.
Environment & Variables

To launch batch files from the command prompt, either navigate to the directory where the
batch file is saved or put the file location in the path environment variable. Assuming the batch file is
saved in C:\Application\bin, you would need to follow these procedures to include the PATH variable.

Introduction 1.3:
Basic Introduction to batch scripts
 Creating a Batch Script
 Batch Script Structure
 Commands and Syntax
 Variables
 Comments
 Running a Batch Script
 Testing and Debugging
 Advanced Functionality
 Be Cautious

Creating a Batch Script

To create a batch script, open a text editor like Notepad and

write your commands one line at a time. Save the file with a “.bat” or
“.cmd” extension. For example, “myscript.bat”

Batch Script Structure

A batch script is essentially a list of command-line instructions. Each line in the script represents
a command or a sequence of commands. The scripts executed from top to bottom, executing each
command in order.

Commands and Syntax

Batch scripts use standard CMD commands and syntax. These include commands like ‘echo’,
‘cd’, ‘dir’, ‘copy’, ‘move’, ‘if’, ‘for’, ‘set’, etc. the commands are the same as what you would use directly
in the Command Prompt.
Variables

batch scripts can use variables to store and manipulate data. Variables are represented using
the syntax %variable_name%. for example, set myVar = Hello creates a variables called “myVar” with
the value “Hello”.

Comments

You can add comments in the batch script to explain what the code does. Comments start with
REM (short for remark) or `::`. They are not executed by the Command Prompt and serve as
documentation for the script.

Running a Batch Script

To run a batch script, simply double-click on the ".bat" or ".cmd" file, or execute it from the
Command Prompt by typing its filename. The Command Prompt will execute each line in the script
sequentially.

Testing and Debugging

When writing batch scripts, it's essential to test and debug them thoroughly. Mistakes can lead
to unintended consequences. You can add `pause` or `echo` statements to temporarily halt the script's
execution to check the output and identify any issues.

Advanced Functionality

Batch scripts can contain conditional statements (`if`) and loops (`for`, `while`) to perform
more complex operations. Additionally, you can call other batch files, perform arithmetic operations,
and work with files and directories.

Be Cautious

Batch scripts have the power to make changes to your system, so be cautious when running
scripts from unknown sources. Always verify the contents of a batch script before executing it.
 As you become more familiar with batch scripts, you can explore advanced concepts like error
handling, functions, and interacting with user input to create more robust and versatile batch scripts.