[TUTORIAL] Batch Files

[insignia96]

Making Batch Files


Introduction:

First off when making a batch file the first line should always be:

 @ECHO OFF

This is important.

To save a file as a batch file open notepad or any other text editor, write the first line @echo off then go Save As.., All Files, then save it as NAME.bat

Now it is a batch file.




Your First Batch File:

Now that you have saved your file as a .bat and written your @ECHO OFF, try to run it. You should see that it flashes a quick blank Command Prompt then it disappears. This is Because there is no content. Lets add a simple Hello World!
Add this to the second line of your batch file.

echo Hello World!

Now try to run it again. You should see the same quickly disappearing box but it should say "Hello World!" in it. Now your probably wondering how to make it stay. Well to make it stay you have to add a pause.
Add this to the third line:

PAUSE

Now your batch file should write this

Hello World!
Press any key to continue...

Congratulations you have now written your first batch file!


A Second, More Complicated Batch File

Now we will write a batch file with a menu.

First write the @echo off line the write

:MENU
cls
echo Welcome to my menu!
echo Please select an an option
echo 1 = OPTION1
echo 2 = OPTION2
set choose = 1
set /p choose =Please type your choice:

IF you ran this you would see the menu but when you chose something it would close to fix this we need to add some goto's and code for the options.

First lets add the goto's under the last line of the previous code add this:

if %choose% == 1 GOTO OPTION1
if %choose% == 2 GOTO OPTION2

Now let's add some code for each option here is a simple code for each option:

:OPTION1
cls
echo This is Option 1
pause
GOTO MENU

:OPTION2
cls
echo This is Option 2
pause
GOTO MENU

Now you have a simple menu.

Commands:

COMMANDS USED:

CLS | This clears the screen of any previously written text
ECHO | This writes the text after it
SET and SET /p | These are used to make menus. SET sets the value of a variable and SET /p lets you make it say CHOOSE AN OPTION:_ and so forth.
GOTO | This lets you go to a specific chunk of code.
PAUSE | Pauses the flow of code until any key is pressed.
IF | It is an if command okay do i really need to explain it?
:SOMENAME | This is used to name a chunk of code and should always have a cls as the first line. (IMHO at least)

Notes:

Batch file commands are the same as in a command prompt.

Batch files are very fun for pranks or fake viruses. I may add the fake shutdown virus on here later.

Batch files can be a very useful tool.


Enjoy!

[maclone]

First off when making a batch file the first line should always be:

Dude...
black on gray??

C'mon, change that font.

[insignia96]

I think it looks fine.

[Edge94]

it does look fine, i can read it perfectly.... and nice tut

[insignia96]

Thanks

(fillah)