Only after that, the next line of the batch script will. Since executing these at the command prompt can be time consuming process, a better. We would like to have a single icon that runs an identical command line, that asks the user to input their user name, the equivalent of the %1 or mary. A slightly late happy new year to everyone, hope you had a good one. Windows cmd start and wait for the default application in a. Start starts a separate window to run a specified program or command. Echo got %1 more info ms kb71247 note there also exists the input parameter %0, which is actually the batch filename it self. If a command is expected to wait for 100ms, and it actually waits 100ms, the difference is 0. I want to create a batch file that takes this command line input and does an operation copy and paste a file and then execute an exe passing the same command line variables. Batch file with command line input solutions experts. Aug 18, 2011 the command or a batch file is attached to an icon on the user s desktop. It is possible to prompt for the user input for the batch file. This batch command takes the input from a source file and sorts its contents alphabetically, from a to z or z to a.
Many pc users and batch file authors including myself, find this approach less intuitive, to say the least. The command or a batch file is attached to an icon on the users desktop. Looking for user input y n in batch script, with a timeout. Batch file programming is the native programming offered by the microsoft windows operating. Jan 01, 2001 when starting a batch file, then one can also specify input parameters. I want the batch file to save the input to a text file on a computer even if it isnt mine and then have it sent to my email.
Password input in batch file solutions experts exchange. Using the setl command i can assign the content of the kix variables to the user defined variables in this example cmduser and cmdpwd. How do i get a batch file to run a program without waiting. I am trying to start the default application for a file, wait for it to complete, and then continue with my batch file. The end result of this line is that you are asked to provide an input, and whatever input this is, it gets stored into an environment variable which can be used later in the code. In the above scenario, i am using pause so as to stop the cmd window from auto closing, at the same time using pause makes it wait for user input press any key to continue, i want that i do not have to provide this input manually, but it happens. Im trying to create a batch file that will take keyboard input and then either launch a program based on that input or display. I always forget, so here it is forever just put this simple line at the end of the batch file and the command prompt will remain until a key is pressed. I dont want my script to continue its execution until the vi has completed its job. A batch file may contain any command the interpreter accepts interactively and use constructs that enable conditional branching and looping within the batch file, such as if, for, and goto labels. Wait for user input pause for batch file command line, cmd, dos prompt. Second, you probably need quotes around the var when testing. I want a batch file that will ask you yes or no questions and the only buttons that will wield you a result would be y and n, while the rest of the characters would just repeat the question.
Hi i have created a batch file which copies new and changed files from a networked storage device to a computer i am using the xcopy command and have used the following syntax. Theres a pause command that does just that, though its not specifically the enter key. To make it more clear ill give you an example of what i want to do. Set p reads a users response into an environment variable, where it can be tested or used as a command argument.
Windows batch files can be created with any basic text editor, but the most common one is notepad. How do i get a batch file to run a program without waiting for it to finish. Batch file which will take a text file as an input closed ask question. The above command will display a list of all commands and their description. Batch file programming introduction batch file programming is the native programming offered by the microsoft windows operating system. You can create and modify batch scripts on just about any modern windows machine. Only after that, the next line of the batch script will be processed. There are certainly ways to prompt for user input from a batch file. Windows cmd start and wait for the default application in. Batch file is created using any text editors like notepad, wordpad, winword or so on, which comprises of a sequence of builtin commands used to perform some often done tasks like deleting a. It is a very simple way to get the user input at the dos prompt. It is still used and is quite useful, especially if you want to run a lot of external programs one after the other. Batch script cmd this batch command invokes another instance of command prompt.
Prompting for input windows batch files for fun and. In this batch you can now access the user input from the kix script using %cmduser% and. Dec 07, 2004 looking for user input y n in batch script, with a timeout. Batch file which will take a text file as an input closed. For instance, using the following on the command prompt will pause the terminal for 10 seconds unless you press a key. Also note the reversed questioning of the inputvaraibles to implement a wait command. Find answers to dos batch file with user input variable from the expert community at experts exchange. A batch file is a script file in dos, os2 and microsoft windows. Windows batch scripting is incredibly accessible it works on just about any modern windows machine. If you want subsequent statements to accept input from the keyboard rather than the redirected stdin, use a new con redirection. Batch file using if statement and keyboard input stack overflow.
If you really want to wait for only the enter key, you can use the set command to ask for user input with a dummy variable, something like. This batch command searches for a string in files or input, outputting matching lines. How to automate user inputkeystroke input when using pause command suvrojp wrote. The promptstring is the text that is displayed to the user. Figure out how you would type the commands at a dos prompt, then type them, one per line, in. Batch is poor when it comes to user input unless predetermined list of choices for choice command if this do that. Batch file using if statement and keyboard input stack. Shutdown allows proper local or remote shutdown of machine. Maybe someone here more savy in vbscripting can give you a example of how to ask for input and output that to a file to compose the html file out of the vbscript. If prompt text is included in an input command, it is displayed while input waits for input. Because of that im looking for a command line tool or any other method that will allow masqueraded user input. The original question is how do you ask for user input and then turnaround and use it in another command. Dos batch file with user input variable solutions experts. A large number are launched by automatic services before the user ever gets to log on, another large number are those present when you, the user, has run a program.
Figure out how you would type the commands at a dos prompt, then type them, one per line, in a text file and youve written your batch file. Batch script is incorporated to automate command sequences which are repetitive in nature. There are a few different commands you can use to delay your batch file depending on your needs. Batch file that accepts two input parameter to copy a file. This batch command formats a disk to use windowssupported file system such as fat, fat32 or ntfs, thereby overwriting the previous content of the disk. Your main mistake is assigning the string entered by the user of the batch file to environment variable input but referencing on command copy the environment variable data which is not defined at all and therefore %data% is replaced twice before execution of the command line by. I wish to launch my vi from the command line, via a script. Input is normally used in batch files and aliases to get multicharacter input for single keystroke input, see inkey input works within the command line window. How to automate user inputkeystroke input when using. If you are writing a batch file and you dont want to continue until somebody presses a key, you can do it really easy with the timeout command. The set p command will print the string you specify and prompt the user for information. Jan 23, 2009 to make it more clear ill give you an example of what i want to do.
Im having trouble with the for command syntax to read lines of an input file into separate variables and i was hoping you can help. The p switch tells the command interpreter to prompt the user for an input which is saved into the variable. Waiting or sleeping in a batch file adams code blog. In windows cmd, how do i prompt for user input and use the result in another command. Command line wait until complete ni community national. If you prefer to us a dialog for user input, see the msgbox and querybox commands. If you want to ask a user whether to proceed after a mishap, or if you want the batch file to prompt for input filenames or other data, you can use the new extended set p command. Jun 27, 2012 find answers to password input in batch file from.
As discussed in the previous tutorial, a batch file is an unformatted text file or script file which contains multiple batch file commands or instructions to achieve a certain task. Batch script cls this batch command clears the screen. Rem batch file user input, log destination, 2 programs as parameters. It consists of a series of commands to be executed by the commandline interpreter, stored in a plain text file. Batch file which will take a text file as an input stack. In addition, you can send the output of one program to be used as input to another. A much smaller number are manual services which are possibly triggered by system events, or by your running a program that chooses to use a system service. Dos batch save to your folders i always forget, so here it is forever just put this simple line at the end of the batch file and the command prompt will remain until a key is pressed. Practice script language reference guide lauterbach. Your main mistake is assigning the string entered by the user of the batch file to environment variable input but referencing on command copy the environment variable data which is not defined at all and therefore %data% is replaced twice before execution of the command line by nothing. I need to know how to get and save user input in a simple batch file.
I have an application that passes command line parameters to an exe or a batch file. Is there a quicker way to program the rest of the characters to repeat your question. Batch script copy this batch command is used for copying files from one location to the other. The problem is that start, when used below simply creates another command prompt window with the example. Standard command line editing keys may be used to edit the input string as it is entered. To execute a batch file, type its name at a command prompt, or execute a windows shortcut that does the same thing. Find answers to password input in batch file from the expert community at. Before posting on our computer help forum, you must register. Wait for user input pause for batch file command line. Msdos batch file pause with enter key stack overflow. This batch command shows the list of windowssupplied commands. Nov, 2010 a lot of times, when we write batch files. I found the below article on another site link provided at the bottom of my post essentially it talks about creating a wait command however when i follow the directions it says that choice is not a recognized internal or external command, operable program or batch file.
Batch files from the expert community at experts exchange. The term batch is from batch processing, meaning noninteractive execution, though a batch file may not process a batch of multiple data. Solved how to save user input from a batch runtime to a file. Is there a simple way to do this, or am i going to have to make my vi write a file when it is complete and get my script to check for the existance of the file before continuing. The parameters can be accessed by the batch file like environment variables, and have the values %1 to %9. What command will make a batch file receive input from a text. This wikihow teaches you how to prevent a batch file from running immediately after being opened. What can i write before taskkill so that the batch file waits with that command until i turn xyz. This batch command shuts down a computer, or logs off the current user. Batch scripts are based on the executable script system in windows that goes back to the old dos days. Looking for user input yn in batch script, with a timeout. I tried the common stuff like putting it in pass word and used ascii code to input the space. Input optionally displays a prompt, then waits for your entry and stores it in an environment or array variable. There are several alternatives people use to simulate a delay in the windows command prompt cmd.