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The Book of Batch Scripting

Name: The Book of Batch Scripting
Author: Jack McLarney
ISBN: 9781718503427

by Jack McLarney

June 2024

Intermediate to advanced

488 pages

13h 14m

English

No Starch Press

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Praise for The Book of Batch Scripting
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
About the Author and Technical Reviewer
Epigraph
Acknowledgments
Introduction
This Book’s AudienceHow to Read This BookHow This Book Is StructuredOther ResourcesNotes on StyleBatveatsWoody GuthrieFor the Love of Batch
Part I: The Essentials
1. Batch
The MS-DOS Command PromptThe Batch Scripting LanguageBat FilesYour First Bat Filecmd FilesEditor RecommendationsThe Batch InterpreterSummary

2. Variables and Values
Setting and Resolving a VariableDisplaying the Value of a VariableWriting to the ConsoleCleaning Up the ConsoleThe Idiosyncrasies of the set CommandCase SensitivityValid Variable CharactersSpaces Around the Assignment OperatorThe Command SeparatorAppending Remarks to a CommandTerminating a CommandDisplaying Variable InformationPersistently Setting a VariableCommand Line HelpSummary
3. Scope and Delayed Expansion
ScopeDelayed ExpansionValues and VariablesPartial Variable NamesCommand ExtensionsFinal Thoughts on setlocal and endlocalSummary
4. Conditional Execution
The Basic if CommandThe Conditional ClauseCompare OperatorsConditional Clause KeywordsThe Case-Insensitive OptionThe errorlevel VariableThe if…else ConstructThe else if ConstructEnhanced Equality Determination TechniquesThe Preceding Dot TechniqueThe Double Quotes TechniquePreceding Dot vs. Double QuotesSummary
5. String and Boolean Data Types
Common Data TypesCharactersStringsBuild and ConcatenateSubstringsText ReplacementBooleansSetting and Evaluating BooleansConverting Booleans to StringsSummary
6. Integer and Float Data Types
An Octals Case StudyIntegersBatch ArithmeticAugmented Assignment OperatorsOrder of OperationOctal and Hexadecimal ArithmeticFloating-Point NumbersAn Octals Case Study, ContinuedSummary
7. Working With Files
Commands for Copying FilescopyxcopyrobocopyFile Masks and WildcardsThe Asterisk Wildcard CharacterThe Question Mark Wildcard CharacterMoving FilesDeleting FilesRenaming FilesSummary
8. Executing Compiled Programs
Calling an ExecutableThe cd Command and VariableThe path Command and VariableFinding an ExecutablePushing and Popping the Current DirectoryFinding Other Resources with the Current DirectoryPassing Arguments to an ExecutableSummary
9. Labels and Nonsequential Execution
LabelsIndentationThe goto CommandBranching ForwardBranching BackwardThe :eof LabelVariable LabelsSummary
10. Calling Routines and Bat Files
The call Command, RevisitedCalling Internal RoutinesCalling Bat FilesNotes on Calling a LabelLaunching Bat FilesThe exit CommandSummary
11. Parameters and Arguments
Passing ArgumentsArgument DelimitersArgument EncasingArgument VariablesAccepting ParametersResolving Parameters with a TildeResolving the Entire Parameter ListInternal Routine ParametersThe Hidden ParameterShifting ParametersReturning ParametersOne Variable as Input and OutputInput Parameter Lists of Varying LengthsDrag-and-Drop ParametersSummary
12. Outputs, Redirection, and Piping
Interpreter-Generated vs. Coder-Generated Outputstdout and stderrWriting FilesFrom Coder-Generated OutputFrom Interpreter-Generated OutputSuppressing stdout and stderrThe @echo off TechniqueThe Redirection to nul TechniqueRemarks in stdoutRedirection of Any CommandPipingstdinSummary
13. Working with Directories
Directory BasicsCreating DirectoriesDeleting DirectoriesRetrieving Directory InformationThe dir CommandThe where CommandMapping Drive LettersThe subst CommandThe net use CommandSummary
14. Escaping
The Problem StatementThe Caret Escape CharacterEscaping the CaretEscaping Percent Signs and Exclamation MarksMultilevel EscapingThe Continuation CharacterSummary
15. Interactive Batch
UIs, GUIs, and BUIsChoosing a Selection from a ListFreeform User InputAltering the UI Look and FeelFully Functional Batch UISummary
16. Code Blocks
Resolving Variables in a Code BlockThe Naked Code BlockSurviving an endlocal CommandThe “Problem” with the endlocal CommandThe Naked Code Block SolutionSummary
Part II: The for Command
17. Fundamentals of the for Command
Creating Personalized DocumentationThe Optionless for CommandFilesets, File Masks, and LoopsSimple Text as InputRetrieving File InformationModifiersParameters with ModifiersReal-World ApplicationsRenaming Files on a BackupProcessing a Variable Number of FilesResolving Variables in Code BlocksSummary
18. Directories, Recursion, and Iterative Loops
The Directory OptionThe Recursion OptionDirectory RecursionThe Iterative Loop OptionPower Function RoutineA Case StudySummary
19. Reading Files and Other Inputs
The for Command with the /F OptionReading the Contents of a FileTokenizing the DataDefining the Set of Data DelimitersSkipping Header RecordsSuppressing Comment RecordsDefining the InputFile InputString InputCommand InputAlternative Syntax for Input TypesFile InputString InputCommand InputWhen to Use usebackqReal-World ApplicationsProcess Only Large Files in a FolderGlobal Text ReplacementNotes on the DocumentationDeconstructing Any for CommandSummary
20. Advanced for Techniques
Honoring NullsForcing a String to UppercaseEmbedding a PowerShell CommandEmbedding a Python CommandTwo Levels of Delayed ExpansionEscaping with the for CommandSummary
Part III: Advanced Topics
21. Pseudo-Environment Variables
Date and TimePromptRandom NumbersThe cmdcmdline VariableSystem VariablesBat Files vs. cmd FilesSetting Pseudo-Environment VariablesSummary
22. Writing Reports
The Data and ReportHeader RecordsDetail RecordsAligning Columns with Justified DataWorking with Floating-Point DataWriting a Detail RecordWorking with Counters and TotalsTrailer RecordsSummary
23. Recursion
Defining RecursionFactorialsDecimal to HexadecimalRecursive Directory SearchesRecursion Stack OverflowSummary
24. Text String Searches
Searching within a FileA Simple StringCustomizationsMultiple WordsSearching Multiple FilesAuxiliary Search FilesFile of Search StringsFile of Files to SearchSearching a StringRegular ExpressionsSearching for Any NumberSearching with Complex CriteriaFinding the Record Count of a FileSummary
25. Bat Files Building Bat Files
Dynamically Creating a Bat FileVariable ResolutionA Real-World ApplicationMultigenerational Bat FilesRecommendationsSummary
26. Automatic Restarts and Multithreading
Five Stages of Intermittent FailuresThe timeout CommandThe Automatic RestartThe Design ConsiderationsThe SpecificationsThe Auto-Restart CodeThe TestingThe Central LogHangsRetrieving a List of ProcessesKilling ProcessesThe Automatic Kill and RestartThe Design ConsiderationsThe SpecificationsThe Core Auto-Kill-and-Restart LogicThe Auto-Kill-and-Restart CodeThe TestingReal-World TweaksMultithreadingSummary
27. And/Or Operators
The Problem StatementReplicating the and OperatorReplicating the or OperatorComparing One Variable to Multiple ValuesComparing Multiple Variables to One ValueComparing Multiple Variables and ValuesThe else KeywordSummary
28. Compact Conditional Execution
Conditional Execution OperatorsUsing a Single OperatorPositive Conditional ExecutionNegative Conditional ExecutionReal-World ApplicationsUsing Multiple OperatorsA Pseudo if…else ConstructMultiple && OperatorsMultiple || OperatorsMultiple && vs. Multiple || OperatorsSummary
29. Arrays and Hash Tables
ArraysCreating ArraysAccessing Array ElementsInitializing an ArrayImplementing Multidimensional ArraysHash TablesArrays vs. Hash TablesBasic Hash Table FunctionalityComplex Hash TablesSummary
30. Odds and Ends
Sorting FilesThe Windows RegistryExploring the RegistryQuerying the RegistryFile AttributesRetrieving AttributesSetting AttributesBit ManipulationBitwise OperationsLogical Shift OperationsSummary
31. Troubleshooting Tips and Testing Techniques
Capture stdout and stderrHow to Navigate the TraceDon’t Be Fooled by the Ghost TraceCreate an Audit Trail of VariablesUnderstand the stdout of the for CommandHow to Interpret Unresolved VariablesRecognize Inconsistent Command OutputsWrite Variables to the ConsoleDecipher Different Types of Syntax ErrorsModularize Wherever PossibleTest Snippets in a Test Bat FileSummary
32. Object-Oriented Design
Procedural vs. Object-Oriented CodingThe Four PillarsBatch Object-Oriented DesignClasses and ObjectsBatch Object-Oriented Design ModelThe Parent ObjectThe Intermediate ObjectThe Child ObjectsExecuting Object-Oriented BatchRecommendationsThe Four Pillars in BatchSummary
33. Stacks, Queues, and Real-World Objects
StacksQueuesReal-World Batch ObjectsThe Stack ObjectThe Queue ObjectStack and Queue ApplicationsFinal Thoughts on Batch Object-Oriented DesignSummary
Afterword
A. Fully Functional Batch Improv
B. Array and Hash Table Objects
The Array ObjectThe Hash Table Object
Index

Content preview from The Book of Batch Scripting

7 WORKING WITH FILES

If you were to ask a coder only tangentially acquainted with Batch for its primary use, their response would likely mention moving files around. Batch can do much more, but without a doubt one of its primary uses is file movements. In this chapter, we’ll explore the different commands and techniques available. You’ll also learn about creating empty files, along with methods for merging, moving, renaming, and deleting files. I’ll introduce file masks and wildcards, allowing you to execute the commands you’re about to learn on many similarly named files instead of just one.

Commands for Copying Files

Batch has three commands ...

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The Book of Batch Scripting

by Jack McLarney