On this page you'll find a shorthand list of common tasks in batch files, and the command(s), variables and/or registrey keys and values that can be used to perform those tasks.
The commands, variables and/or registry keys and values provided are not complete solutions.
You may need to experiment with them before actually using them.
| Notes: | Many, if not most, of the commands listed here require Windows 2000 and later, some require Windows XP or later, some require Active Directory. Read more detailed information by following the links provided. |
| Depending on the Windows version, some commands (e.g. SETX and NETSVC) may require installation of a Resource Kit. |
| Task | Available commands, registry keys/values or variables |
|---|---|
| Add/remove computer to/from domain | NETDOM (1) |
| Counters | FOR /L or SET /A counter += 1 |
| Delays | SLEEP, TIMEOUT, CHOICE, PING 127.0.0.1 or PING ::1 |
| Current date | DATE /T, %Date%, DEBUG or WMIC Path Win32_LocalTime Get Day,Month,Year |
| Current directory (no trailing backslash except for root directories) | CD or %CD% |
| Current directory with trailing backslash | %__CD__% |
| Current drive | %CD:~0,2% or FOR /F %%A IN ("%CD%") DO SET CurDrv=%%~dA |
| Current time | TIME /T, %Time%, DEBUG or WMIC Path Win32_LocalTime Get Hour,Minute,Second |
| Directory of current batch file (trailing backslash) | %~dp0 |
| Drive of current batch file | %~d0 |
| Edit a file in its registered program | REG |
| Environment, permanent changes | SETX (2) |
| File size | FOR %%A IN (filespec) DO SET FileSize=%%~zA |
| File timestamp | FOR %%A IN (filespec) DO SET TimeStamp=%%~tA |
| Firewall configuration | NETSH |
| Harddisk & volume management | DISKPART, FDISK, FORMAT, CONVERT, MOUNTVOL, VOL, CHKDSK, CHKNTFS, DEFRAG |
| Hardware inventory | WMIC |
| IP address (local) | PING %ComputerName%, NSLOOKUP %ComputerName% or IPCONFIG /ALL |
| IP address (remote) | PING, NSLOOKUP or WMIC NICCONFIG Get IPAddress |
| IP address (WAN) to file | WGET -O output_filename -q http://automation.whatismyip.com/n09230945.asp (3) |
| IP address (WAN) to file | WANIP > output_filename 2>NUL (3) |
| IP address (WAN) to screen | WGET -q -O- http://automation.whatismyip.com/n09230945.asp (3) |
| IP address (WAN) to screen | WANIP (3) |
| Map network drive | NET Use * \\uncpath or PUSHD \\uncpath |
| Logoff | Multiple commands available |
| Open a file, folder or web page in its registered program | START |
| Permissions | CACLS, XCACLS (2), MMC & SECEDIT,
SUBINACL (3) or
SETACL (3) |
| Popup dialogs | NET Send %ComputerName% |
| Print text | NOTEPAD /P |
| Print a file with its registered program | ASSOC, FTYPE & REGEDIT or REG |
| Printer management | RUNDLL32 PRINTUI.DLL,PrintUIEntry |
| Process management | Multiple commands available |
| Prompt for user input | SET /P & other commands |
| Random interger | %RANDOM% |
| Read text files | FOR /F or occasionaly < redirection |
| Reboot | Multiple commands available |
| Registry | REGEDIT or REG |
| Service management | NET Stop, NET Start, SC or NETSVC (2) |
| Shutdown | Multiple commands available |
| Test elevated privileges in Windows XP/Vista/7 (tip: Ron Guggisberg) | OPENFILES >NUL || ECHO Administrative privileges required |
| Test if running in Microsoft Virtual Machine | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Virtual Machine\Guest\Parameters |
| Test if running in Virtual Machine (tip: Emilio Hodge) | DMIDecode -s system-product-name (3) |
| Test if running in Virtual PC | WMIC Path Win32_BaseBoard Get Manufacturer,Product |
| Unicode to ASCII conversion | TYPE |
| User/group management | NET, DSADD, DSGET, DSMOD, DSMOVE, DSQUERY & DSRM (1) or CSVDE & LDIFDE (1) |
| Write text files | Redirected ECHO |
| Notes: | (1) | Requires Windows XP with Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack, or Windows Server 2003 or later. |
| (2) | Resource Kit tool | |
| (3) | Third party tool |
page last modified: 2023-10-30; loaded in 0.0022 seconds
