Small Guide To Batch File Programming

by Koen

Batch file programming is nothing but the Windows version of Unix Shell
Programming. Let's start by understanding what happens when we give a
DOS command. DOS is basically a file called command.com
It is this file (command.com) which handles all DOS commands that you
give at the DOS prompt---such as COPY, DIR, DEL etc. These
commands are built in with the Command.com file. (Such commands which
are built in are called internal commands.).DOS has something called
external commands too such as FORMAT,
UNDELETE, BACKUP etc.
So whenever we give a DOS command either internal or external,
command.com either straightaway executes the command (Internal
Commands) or calls an external separate program which executes the
command for it and returns the result (External Commands.)

So why do I need Batch File Programs? Say you need to execute a set
of commands over and over again to perform a routine task like Backing
up Important Files,Deleting temporary files(*.tmp, .bak , ~.* etc)
then it is very difficult to type the same set of commands over and over
again. To perform a bulk set of same commands over and over again,
Batch files are used. Batch Files are to DOS what Macros are to
Microsoft Office and are used to perform an automated predefined set
of tasks over and over again.

31 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2019