COPS 1103 4th Lesson

1
COPS 1103 4th Lesson

• Attendance
• Quiz
• Lecture
• Lab
• September 20 and 21st, 2004

2
Batch Files Defined

• A batch file is a file containing DOS commands
  and/or other Batch Filenames that allows you to
  execute these commands automatically

3
Batch Files

• Are productivity tools which reduce the number of
  keystrokes required to perform a task or series
  of tasks
• Can contain commands all in a single file,
  executed when you run the Batch File

4
Batch File

• When running a Batch File
• Dos will run each of the commands in the file in
  sequence, just as if you had entered them at the
  keyboard
• Example of a Batch File
• AUTOEXEC.BAT

5
Purpose of a Batch File

• Simplifies sequences of DOS commands
• Eliminates Repetitive steps
• Eliminates careless typing mistakes
• Causes a sequence of DOS commands to be executed
  upon boot or reboot
• Allows menus to be set up for easy start up of
  programs

6
Creating a Batch File

• You may use any DOS commands in a Batch File
• Lines are limited to 127 characters, anything
  beyond this amount is ignored
• Regardless of the source of the Batch File, the
  outcome of its execution depends on the commands
  included in the file.

7
Creating Batch Files

• Batch files must be created using a text editor
• use something like notepad or EDIT.COM
• dont use a word processor because special
  formatting characters are added that will cause
  your batch file to not execute properly.

8
Running a Batch File

• Executed by entering the filename at the system
  prompt (remember PATH)
• Terminate a Batch Command by pressing CTRL
  BREAK (found on the PAUSE key) or CTRL C. You may
  have to do this more than once for the program to
  be interrupted.

9
Batch File

• Example of a batch file
• This file is stored as MyBatch.BAT
• REM This is my batch file
• CLS
• ECHO OFF
• COPY MyFile.txt OldFile.txt
• DEL MyFile.txt
• You can store any commands in a batch
• file.

10
Sample Batch File

• ECHO OFF
• ECHO Welcome to Durham College
• ECHO
• PAUSE
• ECHO ON
• DATE
• TIME
• CLS
• PROMPT PG

11
Batch Commands

• ECHO ON/OFF/message
• ON commands in the batch file are displayed as
  they are executed
• OFF commands in the batch file are not seen when
  executed
• Message is displayed on the screen whether the
  ECHO command is ON or OFF. You may not set the
  ECHO on or off in a command that contains a
  message

12
Batch Commands

• Pause causes the processing of a batch file to
  pause until a key is struck on the keyboard

13
Example of a BATCH FILE

• COPY CON TEST1.BAT
• ECHO OFF
• CLS
• ECHO This batch file will display the contents of
• ECHO a DOS TEXT FILE
• PAUSE
• CLS
• TYPE GREET.TXT
• Rem you will need to create a GREET.TXT file

14
Batch Files

• Part I Using DOS Commands and Creating a Batch
  File 45 minutes
• -Create a new file called MyFirstBatchFile.bat.
• -In the batch file, add the commands that will
  do the following-Create a directory called
  Lab2.
• -Change to the Lab2 directory.
• -Create a text file called ltyournamegt.txt.
  ltyournamegt first initial, last name
• -Create a directory called OFiles.
• -Copy ltyournamegt.txt to the OFiles directory.
• -Rename the file in MyFiles to Rltyournamegt.txt
• -Copy all DOS commands from the DOS directory
  that have a .com extension to the directory CDOS.
• -List all files that start with s with a wide
  directory display, pausing when the screen is
  full
• -Clear the screen and request the version of DOS.
• -Test your batch file.
• -Create a file called marks.txt that has all of
  the subjects that you are taking and the mark you
  would like to receive for each.
• -Save the file.
• -Request a screen listing of the file.
• -Choose one command (any of the remaining
  commands not used above) and document how you
  used it
• -Create a file called Inside.txt that is in a new
  directory called \New1\New2\New3.
• -Move the file from that directory to another new
  directory called \New1\New4.

15
Replaceable Parameters

• Placeholders that are typed in at the prompt
  after the name of the batch file
• Numbered sequentially 1 to 9
• First replaceable parameter is 1
• 0 substitutes for the name of the batch command
  as typed in at the prompt

16
Example

• EDIT MOVE.BAT
• Copy 1 2
• Del 1
• When you run the batch file you need to type in
  the filename and destination after the batch
  filename
• Example MOVE CFUN.BAT C\BATCH

17
Making Decisions

• IF command required when you want a batch file
  command to be executed only when a condition is
  met
• If the condition is not met then you my want to
  include a NOT in the command
• Example IF 1 LOTUSc\lotus\lotus
• Checks to see if the user had typed in Lotus and
  if so it would change to the Lotus directory and
  run the Lotus program

18
GOTO command

• Allows you to switch to another part of the
  program by using a Label to direct it
• The label appears on another line in the program
  and must be preceded by a colon (LABEL)
• When the program switches to the label it then
  carries out the commands found there

19
Example

• GOTO MESSAGE
• DIR/W
• MESSAGE
• CLS
• ECHO This is now a clean screen and is ready to go

20
Batch Files

• Part II Modifying AUTOEXEC.BAT 45 minutes
• - Set the prompt to display current directory
  and date.
• -Set a path to include the DOS directory and the
  root of C
• -Turn off the echo display
• - Set up a little menu to display the following
  
• -Start-up Program Menu Type the number of
  the program to run and press ENTER 1.
  WordStar 2. Lotus 1-2-3 3. Graphics
  program 4. No program

21
Batch File

• PART 3
• This Lab work is due at the end of the next Lab
• -Research and create a batch file that will do
  the\
• following
• -ask the user for the day of the week
• -if it is Mon, Wed or Fri
• remove all files from the GONE directory
• copy all files in the DAILY directory to the
  BACKUP directory
• -if it is Tues or Thurs.
• copy all files from the BACKUP directory to the
  GONE directory
• copy all files in the DAILY directory to the
  BACKUP directory.