I am creating a batch file with some simple commands to gather information from a system. The batch file contains commands to get the time, IP information, users, etc.
I assembled all the commands in a batch file, and it runs, but I would like the batch file, when run to output the results to a text file (log). Is there a command that I can add to the batch that would do so?
Keep in mind I do not want to run the batch from cmd, then redirect output ; I want to redirect the output from inside the batch, if that is possible.
The simple naive way that is slow because it opens and positions the file pointer to End-Of-File multiple times.
#echo off
command1 >output.txt
command2 >>output.txt
...
commandN >>output.txt
A better way - easier to write, and faster because the file is opened and positioned only once.
#echo off
>output.txt (
command1
command2
...
commandN
)
Another good and fast way that only opens and positions the file once
#echo off
call :sub >output.txt
exit /b
:sub
command1
command2
...
commandN
Edit 2020-04-17
Every now and then you may want to repeatedly write to two or more files. You might also want different messages on the screen. It is still possible to to do this efficiently by redirecting to undefined handles outside a parenthesized block or subroutine, and then use the & notation to reference the already opened files.
call :sub 9>File1.txt 8>File2.txt
exit /b
:sub
echo Screen message 1
>&9 echo File 1 message 1
>&8 echo File 2 message 1
echo Screen message 2
>&9 echo File 1 message 2
>&8 echo File 2 message 2
exit /b
I chose to use handles 9 and 8 in reverse order because that way is more likely to avoid potential permanent redirection due to a Microsoft redirection implementation design flaw when performing multiple redirections on the same command. It is highly unlikely, but even that approach could expose the bug if you try hard enough. If you stage the redirection than you are guaranteed to avoid the problem.
3>File1.txt ( 4>File2.txt call :sub)
exit /b
:sub
etc.
if you want both out and err streams redirected
dir >> a.txt 2>&1
I know this is an older post, but someone will stumble across it in a Google search and it also looks like some questions the OP asked in comments weren't specifically addressed. Also, please go easy on me since this is my first answer posted on SO. :)
To redirect the output to a file using a dynamically generated file name, my go-to (read: quick & dirty) approach is the second solution offered by #dbenham. So for example, this:
#echo off
> filename_prefix-%DATE:~-4%-%DATE:~4,2%-%DATE:~7,2%_%time:~0,2%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%.log (
echo Your Name Here
echo Beginning Date/Time: %DATE:~-4%-%DATE:~4,2%-%DATE:~7,2%_%time:~0,2%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%.log
REM do some stuff here
echo Your Name Here
echo Ending Date/Time: %DATE:~-4%-%DATE:~4,2%-%DATE:~7,2%_%time:~0,2%%time:~3,2%%time:~6,2%.log
)
Will create a file like what you see in this screenshot of the file in the target directory
That will contain this output:
Your Name Here
Beginning Date/Time: 2016-09-16_141048.log
Your Name Here
Ending Date/Time: 2016-09-16_141048.log
Also keep in mind that this solution is locale-dependent, so be careful how/when you use it.
echo some output >"your logfile"
or
(
echo some output
echo more output
)>"Your logfile"
should fill the bill.
If you want to APPEND the output, use >> instead of >. > will start a new logfile.
#echo off
>output.txt (
echo Checking your system infor, Please wating...
systeminfo | findstr /c:"Host Name"
systeminfo | findstr /c:"Domain"
ipconfig /all | find "Physical Address"
ipconfig | find "IPv4"
ipconfig | find "Default Gateway"
)
#pause
Add these two lines near the top of your batch file, all stdout and stderr after will be redirected to log.txt:
if not "%1"=="STDOUT_TO_FILE" %0 STDOUT_TO_FILE %* >log.txt 2>&1
shift /1
There is a cool little program you can use to redirect the output to a file and the console
some_command ^| TEE.BAT [ -a ] filename
#ECHO OFF
:: Check Windows version
IF NOT "%OS%"=="Windows_NT" GOTO Syntax
:: Keep variables local
SETLOCAL
:: Check command line arguments
SET Append=0
IF /I [%1]==[-a] (
SET Append=1
SHIFT
)
IF [%1]==[] GOTO Syntax
IF NOT [%2]==[] GOTO Syntax
:: Test for invalid wildcards
SET Counter=0
FOR /F %%A IN ('DIR /A /B %1 2^>NUL') DO CALL :Count "%%~fA"
IF %Counter% GTR 1 (
SET Counter=
GOTO Syntax
)
:: A valid filename seems to have been specified
SET File=%1
:: Check if a directory with the specified name exists
DIR /AD %File% >NUL 2>NUL
IF NOT ERRORLEVEL 1 (
SET File=
GOTO Syntax
)
:: Specify /Y switch for Windows 2000 / XP COPY command
SET Y=
VER | FIND "Windows NT" > NUL
IF ERRORLEVEL 1 SET Y=/Y
:: Flush existing file or create new one if -a wasn't specified
IF %Append%==0 (COPY %Y% NUL %File% > NUL 2>&1)
:: Actual TEE
FOR /F "tokens=1* delims=]" %%A IN ('FIND /N /V ""') DO (
> CON ECHO.%%B
>> %File% ECHO.%%B
)
:: Done
ENDLOCAL
GOTO:EOF
:Count
SET /A Counter += 1
SET File=%1
GOTO:EOF
:Syntax
ECHO.
ECHO Tee.bat, Version 2.11a for Windows NT 4 / 2000 / XP
ECHO Display text on screen and redirect it to a file simultaneously
ECHO.
IF NOT "%OS%"=="Windows_NT" ECHO Usage: some_command ³ TEE.BAT [ -a ] filename
IF NOT "%OS%"=="Windows_NT" GOTO Skip
ECHO Usage: some_command ^| TEE.BAT [ -a ] filename
:Skip
ECHO.
ECHO Where: "some_command" is the command whose output should be redirected
ECHO "filename" is the file the output should be redirected to
ECHO -a appends the output of the command to the file,
ECHO rather than overwriting the file
ECHO.
ECHO Written by Rob van der Woude
ECHO http://www.robvanderwoude.com
ECHO Modified by Kees Couprie
ECHO http://kees.couprie.org
ECHO and Andrew Cameron
#echo OFF
[your command] >> [Your log file name].txt
I used the command above in my batch file and it works. In the log file, it shows the results of my command.
Adding the following lines at the bottom of your batch file will grab everything just as displayed inside the CMD window and export into a text file:
powershell -c "$wshell = New-Object -ComObject wscript.shell; $wshell.SendKeys('^a')
powershell -c "$wshell = New-Object -ComObject wscript.shell; $wshell.SendKeys('^c')
powershell Get-Clipboard > MyLog.txt
It basically performs a select all -> copy into clipboard -> paste into text file.
This may fail in the case of "toxic" characters in the input.
Considering an input like thisIsAnIn^^^^put is a good way how to get understand what is going on.
Sure there is a rule that an input string MUST be inside double quoted marks but I have a feeling that this rule is a valid rule only if the meaning of the input is a location on a NTFS partition (maybe it is a rule for URLs I am not sure).
But it is not a rule for an arbitrary input string of course (it is "a good practice" but you cannot count with it).
I am trying to use a BATCH file as a choose your own adventure story in which the user can create a character and be called by name and such by the characters in the story. It hit me an hour back that it would be cool if as or after the BATCH file containing the story was run it made a log of all of the ECHO commands so that later the player could read what they did on any given play threw.
I would like the log file to read like this:
%date% %time%
(all text displayed by echo commands for the length the file runs)
Unfortunately all I can figure out how to do is to make a loge file with just the date and time. Putting ">> StoryLog.txt" works to make the .txt file and I get the date and time in there but it just displays the text ">> StoryLog.txt" after what I want the batch file to display in echoed txt as in "You go north down the path >> StoryLog.txt" is shown on the screen. This naturally just wont work. What do I do?
for this purpose I use the following:
set LogFile=somepath\logfile.txt
set logg=^> _^&type _^&type _^>^>%LogFile%
echo this goes to screen AND file! %logg%
This is a bit tricky.
So let's disassemble that line to four parts:
set logg= ^> _ ^&type _ ^&type _^>^>%LogFile%
The Idea is to print the line to a temporary file (named _) (second part)
then type the contents of that file to screen (third part)
then type it to the logfile (fourth part).
Put that all to a variable (first part), so you don't have to type that monsterstring to every line. (this is the reason why the > and & are escaped with ^)
So every time you use
echo whatever %logg%
it will appear on the screen AND write to %logfile%
Note that this will also work:
%logg% echo whatever
Edit djangofan:
Also, you can do it with functions:
#ECHO off
:: do not enable delayed expansion since it will break this method
SETLOCAL ENABLEEXTENSIONS
SET LogFile=logfile.out
SET Logg=^> tmp.out^&^& type tmp.out^&^&type tmp.out^>^>%LogFile%
CALL :logit "This is my message!"
CALL :logit "Hear my thunder?"
GOTO :end
:logit
ECHO %~1 %Logg%
DEL /Q tmp.out
EXIT /B 0
:end
pause
Edit Stephan:
If you use CALL, the %logg% would be overkill. In that case I would just use:
:logit
echo %~1
echo %date%,%time% - %~1 >>logfile
exit /b 0
This might be the best solution to the original question, because the Date/Time will be written into logfile, but not on the screen.
Btw: you don't have to delete the tempfile every time you use it, just delete it one time, just before the batch ends.
As my other answer got quite long due to some edits, here is a new suggestion
(not much changed, but it makes the code quite easy to read):
#ECHO off
SET LogFile=logfile.out
set "say=call :logit "
%say% "This is my message!"
%say% "Hear my thunder?"
GOTO :end
:logit
ECHO %~1
echo %date% %time% - %~1 >>%logfile%
EXIT /B 0
:end
You cannot do that in batch script literally, but if you define functions, you can output data within the function block that also writes to a log file before the function returns, like so:
#ECHO off
SETLOCAL ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION ENABLEEXTENSIONS
echo. 2>outfile.log
CALL :functionPerson "Jon Doe" jump
GOTO :END
:functionPerson fullname action
ECHO fullname is ^"%~1^"
ECHO action is %2
ECHO %1 performs action %2>> outfile.log
EXIT /B 0
:END
pause
Each time you echo for the player to know what happens, you could also echo into your log file, adding date and time at the beginning of your line :) Simple as that for me.
Don't know how your script looks though.
My problem at hand is to download pdf files and send all of them to the printer.
I download via ftp correctly and all the files go into my local directory:
File Name = FtpScript.ftp
open ftp.domain.com
username
password
!:--- FTP commands below here ---
lcd local/Directory
cd /remote/Directory
binary
mget "*.pdf"
prompt
disconnect
quit
This batch file then calls the ftp script.
File Name = retrieve_print.bat
#ftp -i -s:"C:\Scripts\FtpScript.ftp"
set mm=%date:~4,2%
set dd=%date:~7,2%
set yy=%date:~-4%
IF NOT EXIST {C:\Users\print_test2\print_%mm%_%yy%}( mkdir C:\Users\print_test2\print_%mm%_%yy% )
IF NOT EXIST C:\Users\print_test2\print_%mm%_%yy%\uploaded_%mm%_%dd%_%yy%.txt (
#echo Uploaded Text -- Date: %date% Time : %time% >> C:\Users\print_test2\print_%mm%_%yy%\uploaded_%mm%_%dd%_%yy%.txt
)
IF NOT EXIST C:\Users\print_test2\print_%mm%_%yy%\printed_%mm%_%dd%_%yy%.txt (
#echo Printed Text -- Date: %date% Time : %time% >> C:\Users\print_test2\print_%mm%_%yy%\printed_%mm%_%dd%_%yy%.txt
)
REM LOOP THROUGH PDFs THAT WERE UPLOADED AND INSERT THE NAMES INTO THE UPLOADED_*_*.txt TEXT FILE
FOR %%x in ( C:\Users\print_test2\print_%mm%_%yy%\*.pdf ) DO (
findstr "%%~nxx" C:\Users\print_test2\print_%mm%_%yy%\uploaded_%mm%_%dd%_%yy%.txt
#ECHO Error level = %errorlevel%
#ECHO %%~nxx
#pause
IF NOT %errorlevel% == 0 (
#echo %%~nxx >> C:\Users\print_test2\print_%mm%_%yy%\uploaded_%mm%_%dd%_%yy%.txt
)
)
REM LOOP THROUGH PDFs THAT WERE UPLOADED AND PRINT THEM, THEN INSERT THEM INTO THE PRINTED_*_*.txt TEXT FILE TO SUPPRESS DUPLICATE PRINTS
FOR %%x in ( C:\Users\print_test2\print_%mm%_%yy%\*.pdf ) DO (
findstr "%%~nxx" C:\Users\print_test2\print_%mm%_%yy%\printed_%mm%_%dd%_%yy%.txt
#ECHO Error level = %errorlevel%
#ECHO %%~nxx
IF NOT %errorlevel% == 0 (
rem PRINT FUNCTION
#echo %%~nxx >> C:\Users\print_test2\print_%mm%_%yy%\printed_%mm%_%dd%_%yy%.txt
)
)
The text files generate incorrectly. My thought is that I could loop through the files available in the print_test2/print_%mm%_%yy% directory for all the files that I received via ftp and log it into a text file.
The problem becomes apparent when I try to run the script a second time when the text files have file names in them. I expect the findstr function to give back an %errorlevel% of 0 , but it does not detect the string that is in the text file and appends all the file names again in both my uploaded and printed text files.
Is there a better way of logging the files received and printing the pdfs only once?
Thanks
Your problem is that the %errorlevel% value is taken inside a for, so it is replaced by the value errorlevel had before enter the for loop. To take the current value that errorlevel have in each for iteration you must use Delayed Variable Expansion, that is, enclose the value in exclamation points instead percents: !errorlevel! AND insert this line at begining of your program:
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
To make this problem clearer, try this:
set name=Value before FOR
for %%f in (*.pdf) do (
set name=%%f
echo %name%
)
and then try again changing echo %name% by echo !name!.
A few ideas to consider:
I'm not sure that the errorlevel after your FINDSTR command is going to be non-zero just because the string wasn't found.
Even if errorlevel is non-zero, I think that the moment you execute the next command, the new errorlevel from that command gets set.
In your IF statement, you might need to wrap the two sides of your equality check in delimiters, e.g. IF NOT "%errorlevel%" == "0"
You might consider just making your list distinct after you echo all file names into it. It'll save you some logic on the way in. Some code for making a list distinct in DOS is described here: http://www.dullsharpness.com/2010/10/01/create-a-distinct-ordered-list-from-an-unordered-duplicate-list-using-ms-dos/
If you use techniques from #4, you can then just do a directory listing into your file (as follows) and then make unique using techniques in #4.
dir/b C:\Users\print_test2\print_%mm%_%yy%\*.pdf >> C:\Users\print_test2\print_%mm%_%yy%\printed_%mm%_%dd%_%yy%.txt
When, for example, i want a batch file to 'open' a file. when i for example drag and drop the file into the batch file, it should do some stuff with that file.
Now, i need to know the variable. I know there is a variable for this kind of stuff; i just forgot it.
Can someone give me the variable please?
Thanks.
The first 9 parameters given to a batch file can be accessed by writing %1 through %9.
The complete command line argument is stored in %*.
For more information, see here.
Drag&Drop to a batch file can be a much more difficult job.
Because windows doesn't know how to add the files in the correct way.
If your files are simple, it works as expected.
1.txt
2 3.txt
4 & 5.txt
drag.bat 1.txt "2 3.txt" "4 & 5.txt"
But some filenames are confusing windows...
6,7.txt
8&9.txt
drag.bat 6,7.txt 8&9.txt
-- results in --
%1 = 6
%2 = 7.txt
%3 = 8
%4 =
The command "9.txt" can not be found
In the first moment it seems an impossible problem,
but it exists a solution.
The trick is to use the cmdcmdline variable instead of the parameters %1..%9
The cmdcmdline contains something like
cmd /c ""C:\dragTest\test.bat" C:\dragTest\1.txt "C:\dragTest\2 3.txt"
C:\dragTest\6,7.txt C:\dragTest\8&9.txt"
So you can work with this, but you have to stop your batch after all, so the 9.txt can't be executed.
#echo off
setlocal ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION
rem Take the cmd-line, remove all until the first parameter
set "params=!cmdcmdline:~0,-1!"
set "params=!params:*" =!"
set count=0
rem Split the parameters on spaces but respect the quotes
for %%G IN (!params!) do (
set /a count+=1
set "item_!count!=%%~G"
rem echo !count! %%~G
rem Or you can access the parameter with, but this isn't secure with special characters like ampersand
rem call echo %%item_!count!%%
)
rem list the parameters
for /L %%n in (1,1,!count!) DO (
echo %%n #!item_%%n!#
)
pause
REM *** EXIT *** is neccessary to prevent execution of "appended" commands
exit
Locked. This question and its answers are locked because the question is off-topic but has historical significance. It is not currently accepting new answers or interactions.
What are some of the lesser know, but important and useful features of Windows batch files?
Guidelines:
One feature per answer
Give both a short description of the feature and an example, not just a link to documentation
Limit answers to native funtionality, i.e., does not require additional software, like the Windows Resource Kit
Clarification: We refer here to scripts that are processed by cmd.exe, which is the default on WinNT variants.
(See also: Windows batch files: .bat vs .cmd?)
Line continuation:
call C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntbackup.exe ^
backup ^
/V:yes ^
/R:no ^
/RS:no ^
/HC:off ^
/M normal ^
/L:s ^
#daily.bks ^
/F daily.bkf
PUSHD path
Takes you to the directory specified by path.
POPD
Takes you back to the directory you "pushed" from.
Not sure how useful this would be in a batch file, but it's a very convenient command to use in the command prompt:
C:\some_directory> start .
This will open up Windows Explorer in the "some_directory" folder.
I have found this a great time-saver.
I have always found it difficult to read comments that are marked by a keyword on each line:
REM blah blah blah
Easier to read:
:: blah blah blah
Variable substrings:
> set str=0123456789
> echo %str:~0,5%
01234
> echo %str:~-5,5%
56789
> echo %str:~3,-3%
3456
The FOR command! While I hate writing batch files, I'm thankful for it.
FOR /F "eol=; tokens=2,3* delims=, " %i in (myfile.txt) do #echo %i %j %k
would parse each line in myfile.txt, ignoring lines that begin with a semicolon, passing the 2nd and 3rd token from each line to the for body, with tokens delimited by commas and/or spaces.
Notice the for body statements reference %i to get the 2nd token, %j to get the 3rd token, and %k to get all remaining tokens after the 3rd.
You can also use this to iterate over directories, directory contents, etc...
Rather than litter a script with REM or :: lines, I do the following at the top of each script:
#echo OFF
goto :START
Description of the script.
Usage:
myscript -parm1|parm2 > result.txt
:START
Note how you can use the pipe and redirection characters without escaping them.
The path (with drive) where the script is : ~dp0
set BAT_HOME=%~dp0
echo %BAT_HOME%
cd %BAT_HOME%
The %~dp0 piece was mentioned already, but there is actually more to it:
the character(s) after the ~ define the information that is extracted.
No letter result in the return of the patch file name
d - returns the drive letter
p - returns the path
s - returns the short path
x - returns the file extension
So if you execute the script test.bat below from the c:\Temp\long dir name\ folder,
#echo off
echo %0
echo %~d0
echo %~p0
echo %~dp0
echo %~x0
echo %~s0
echo %~sp0
you get the following output
test
c:
\Temp\long dir name\
c:\Temp\long dir name\
.bat
c:\Temp\LONGDI~1\test.bat
\Temp\LONGDI~1\
And if a parameter is passed into your script as in
test c:\temp\mysrc\test.cpp
the same manipulations can be done with the %1 variable.
But the result of the expansion of %0 depends on the location!
At the "top level" of the batch it expands to the current batch filename.
In a function (call), it expands to the function name.
#echo off
echo %0
call :test
goto :eof
:test
echo %0
echo %~0
echo %~n0
The output is (the batchfile is started with myBatch.bat )
myBatch.bat
:test
:test
myBatch
By using CALL, EXIT /B, SETLOCAL & ENDLOCAL you can implement subroutines with local variables.
example:
#echo off
set x=xxxxx
call :sub 10
echo %x%
exit /b
:sub
setlocal
set /a x=%1 + 1
echo %x%
endlocal
exit /b
This will print
11
xxxxx
even though :sub modifies x.
Sneaky trick to wait N seconds (not part of cmd.exe but isn't extra software since it comes with Windows), see the ping line. You need N+1 pings since the first ping goes out without a delay.
echo %time%
call :waitfor 5
echo %time%
goto :eof
:waitfor
setlocal
set /a "t = %1 + 1"
>nul ping 127.0.0.1 -n %t%
endlocal
goto :eof
Escaping the "plumbing":
echo ^| ^< ^> ^& ^\ ^^
Being able to run commands and process the output (like backticks of '$()' in bash).
for /f %i in ('dir /on /b *.jpg') do echo --^> %i
If there are spaces in filenames, use this:
for /f "tokens=*" %i in ('dir /on /b *.jpg') do echo --^> %i
Creating an empty file:
> copy nul filename.ext
To hide all output from a command redirect to >nul 2>&1.
For example, the some command line programs display output even if you redirect to >nul. But, if you redirect the output like the line below, all the output will be suppressed.
PSKILL NOTEPAD >nul 2>&1
EDIT: See Ignoring the output of a command for an explanation of how this works.
PAUSE
Stops execution and displays the following prompt:
Press any key to continue . . .
Useful if you want to run a batch by double-clicking it in Windows Explorer and want to actually see the output rather than just a flash of the command window.
The equivalent of the bash (and other shells)
echo -n Hello # or
echo Hello\\c
which outputs "Hello" without a trailing newline. A cmd hack to do this:
<nul set /p any-variable-name=Hello
set /p is a way to prompt the user for input. It emits the given string and then waits, (on the same line, i.e., no CRLF), for the user to type a response.
<nul simply pipes an empty response to the set /p command, so the net result is the emitted prompt string. (The variable used remains unchanged due to the empty reponse.)
Problems are: It's not possible to output a leading equal sign, and on Vista leading whitespace characters are removed, but not on XP.
Search and replace when setting environment variables:
> #set fname=%date:/=%
...removes the "/" from a date for use in timestamped file names.
and substrings too...
> #set dayofweek=%fname:~0,3%
Integer arithmetic:
> SET /A result=10/3 + 1
4
Command separators:
cls & dir
copy a b && echo Success
copy a b || echo Failure
At the 2nd line, the command after && only runs if the first command is successful.
At the 3rd line, the command after || only runs if the first command failed.
Output a blank line:
echo.
You can chain if statements to get an effect like a short-circuiting boolean `and'.
if foo if bar baz
To quickly convert an Unicode text file (16bit/char) to a ASCII DOS file (8bit/char).
C:\> type unicodeencoded.txt > dosencoded.txt
as a bonus, if possible, characters are correctly mapped.
if block structure:
if "%VS90COMNTOOLS%"=="" (
echo: Visual Studio 2008 is not installed
exit /b
)
Delayed expansion of variables (with substrings thrown in for good measure):
#echo off
setlocal enableextensions enabledelayedexpansion
set full=/u01/users/pax
:loop1
if not "!full:~-1!" == "/" (
set full2=!full:~-1!!full2!
set full=!full:~,-1!
goto :loop1
)
echo !full!
endlocal
Doesn't provide much functionality, but you can use the title command for a couple of uses, like providing status on a long script in the task bar, or just to enhance user feedback.
#title Searching for ...
:: processing search
#title preparing search results
:: data processing
Don't have an editor handy and need to create a batch file?
copy con test.bat
Just type away the commands, press enter for a new line.
Press Ctrl-Z and Enter to close the file.
example of string subtraction on date and time to get file named "YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS.txt"
echo test > "%date:~0,4%-%date:~5,2%-%date:~8,2% %time:~0,2%_%time:~3,2%_%time:~6,2%.txt"
I use color to indicate if my script end up successfully, failed, or need some input by changing color of text and background. It really helps when you have some machine in reach of your view but quite far away
color XY
where X and Y is hex value from 0 to F, where X - background, Y - text, when X = Y color will not change.
color Z
changes text color to 'Z' and sets black background, 'color 0' won't work
for names of colors call
color ?
Total control over output with spacing and escape characters.:
echo. ^<resourceDir^>/%basedir%/resources^</resourceDir^>
TheSoftwareJedi already mentioned the for command, but I'm going to mention it again as it is very powerful.
The following outputs the current date in the format YYYYMMDD, I use this when generating directories for backups.
for /f "tokens=2-4 delims=/- " %a in ('DATE/T') do echo %c%b%a