Special Edition Using Microsoft® Windows® Vista

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Chapter 32 Command-Line and Automation Tools

32

Batch Files

Although Windows Script Host is the most powerful tool for creating your own helpful pro-

grams, it’s also useful to know how to use the batch file language. Batch files let you take

advantage of the hundreds of command-line programs supplied with Windows. Although

the batch file language is less powerful than VBScript, it has variables, primitive functions,

and rudimentary flow-of-control commands, so it does qualify as a programming language.

A batch file, at the simplest level, is just a list of command prompt commands typed into

a file whose extension is .BAT or .CMD. When you enter ...