Introduction to Batch Files

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Chapter 10

• Introduction to Batch Files

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Overview

• A batch file is a text file that contains an
  ordered series of commands.

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Overview

• Batch files allow the user to
• automate a process
• create more powerful
• commands

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Concepts of Batch Interactive Processing

• A batch file contains one or more commands.

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Concepts of Batch Interactive Processing

• A batch file must have the extension .BAT

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Concepts of Batch Interactive Processing

• Batch files allow the user to
• minimize keystrokes
• minimize the
• possibility of errors

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Concepts of Batch Interactive Processing

• In interactive processing (real-time mode)
• the user directly
• interacts with
• computer
• info. is processed
• without delay

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How Batch Files Work

• The difference between Data and Program files is
  determined by their file extensions.

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How Batch Files Work

• Priority rules are followed when the OS looks for
  a file to load and execute.

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How Batch Files Work

• The .BAT extension is the last file extension the
  OS looks for when trying to execute a program.

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Using EDIT to Write Batch Files

• To write a batch file
• must use a program
• that creates ASCII
• text files.

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Using EDIT to Write Batch Files

• Word processing programs can create text files,
  but
• they are very large
• they take a long time
• to load into memory

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Using EDIT to Write Batch Files

• EDIT is the small, simple text editor in MS-DOS
  used to write batch files.

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Using EDIT to Write Batch Files

• Notepad is the text editor in Windows that can be
  used to write batch files.

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Writing and Executing a Batch File to Save
Keystrokes

• It is sometimes easier to use COPY CON instead of
  EDIT to write a simple batch file.

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Writing and Executing a Batch File to Save
Keystrokes

• Two drawbacks to using COPY CON
• Cannot correct errors
• once ltEntergt is pressed
• Cannot correct errors in
• existing files

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Writing and Executing a Batch File to Save
Keystrokes

• Must use EDIT to correct errors.

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Using Batch Files to Load Application Software

• To launch an application in Windows
• click program icon
• select program from
• menu
• use the toolbar

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Using Batch Files to Load Application Software

• To launch an application program from the command
  line
• must create a batch file

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Using Batch Files to Load Application Software

• Need to follow three steps in order to load
  application software in MS-DOS.

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Writing a Batch File to Load an Application
Program

• By creating a batch file, a user can simplify the
  process of loading an application program in
  MS-DOS.

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Creating Shortcuts for Batch Files on the Desktop

• To run a batch file from Windows
• click file name in
• Explorer/My Computer
• create shortcut for file
• and place on desktop

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Special Batch File Commands

• There are nine commands specifically designed to
  be used in batch files.

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Special Batch FileCommands

• CALL
• CHOICE
• ECHO

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Special Batch File Commands

• FOR
• GOTO
• IF

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Special Batch FileCommands

• PAUSE
• REM
• SHIFT

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The REM Command

• REM command (remarks)...
• statements keyed in by user that tell what is
  the purpose of the batch file

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The ECHO Command

• ECHO command
• displays a command and the output of that
  command to the screen.

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The ECHO Command

• The default value for ECHO is ON.

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The ECHO Command

• Can turn off the display of the command and only
  see the output of the command.

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The ECHO Command
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Activity Using ECHO
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The PAUSE Command

• PAUSE command
• instructs the batch file to stop executing
  until the user takes some action.

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Stopping a Batch File from Executing

• Two ways to interrupt a batch file during
  execution
• Press ltCtrlgt C
• Press ltCtrlgt ltBreakgt

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Replaceable Parameters in Batch Files

• Many commands use variable or replaceable
  parameters.

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Replaceable Parameters in Batch Files

• Batch files can also use replaceable parameters.

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Replaceable Parameters in Batch Files

• Replaceable parameters are used to limit the
  number of batch files that do the same thing, but
  use different names.

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Replaceable Parameters in Batch Files

• Place holders are needed to indicate to the batch
  file that a variable (file name) will be keyed in.

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Replaceable Parameters in Batch Files

• The place holder used in batch files is the
  percent sign (), followed by a number (0-9).

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Replaceable Parameters in Batch Files

• The sign is a signal to the OS that a parameter
  is coming.

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Replaceable Parameters in Batch Files

• The numbers (0-9) indicate what position the
  parameter is on in the command line.

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Multiple Replaceable Parameters in Batch Files

• Many commands used in batch files may require
  more than one parameter.

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Multiple Replaceable Parameters in Batch File

• Batch files can have up to 10 replaceable
  parameters (0-9).

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Activity Using Multiple Replaceable Parameters
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Creating Useful Batch Files

• With batch files a user can create new commands
  that are not provided by the OS.

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Understanding AUTOEXEC.BAT

• AUTOEXEC.BAT is a file that
• runs when the system
• is booted
• contains specific
• commands that a user
• chooses to run

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Understanding AUTOEXEC.BAT

• Interactive booting
• user is asked by the computer if s/he
  wants to execute each line in the CONFIG.SYS
  and AUTOEXEC.BAT files.

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Controlling the Boot Process

• During booting process, the user may experience
  problems that are related to instruction
  statements in the CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT
  files.

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Controlling the Boot Process

• By pressing certain function keys, the user can
  control the boot process in order to correct
  problems that arise.

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