How to verify if a file exists in a batch file? - windows

Question

I have to create a .BAT file that does this:
If C:\myprogram\sync\data.handler exists, exit;
If C:\myprogram\html\data.sql does not exist, exit;
In C:\myprogram\sync\ delete all files and folders except (test, test3 and test2)
Copy C:\myprogram\html\data.sql to C:\myprogram\sync\
Call other batch file with option sync.bat myprogram.ini.
If it was in the Bash environment it was easy for me, but I do not know how to test if a file or folder exists and if it is a file or folder.

Answer 1

You can use IF EXIST to check for a file:
IF EXIST "filename" (
REM Do one thing
) ELSE (
REM Do another thing
)
If you do not need an "else", you can do something like this:
set __myVariable=
IF EXIST "C:\folder with space\myfile.txt" set __myVariable=C:\folder with space\myfile.txt
IF EXIST "C:\some other folder with space\myfile.txt" set __myVariable=C:\some other folder with space\myfile.txt
set __myVariable=
Here's a working example of searching for a file or a folder:
REM setup
echo "some text" > filename
mkdir "foldername"
REM finds file
IF EXIST "filename" (
ECHO file filename exists
) ELSE (
ECHO file filename does not exist
)
REM does not find file
IF EXIST "filename2.txt" (
ECHO file filename2.txt exists
) ELSE (
ECHO file filename2.txt does not exist
)
REM folders must have a trailing backslash
REM finds folder
IF EXIST "foldername\" (
ECHO folder foldername exists
) ELSE (
ECHO folder foldername does not exist
)
REM does not find folder
IF EXIST "filename\" (
ECHO folder filename exists
) ELSE (
ECHO folder filename does not exist
)

Answer 2

Here is a good example on how to do a command if a file does or does not exist:
if exist C:\myprogram\sync\data.handler echo Now Exiting && Exit
if not exist C:\myprogram\html\data.sql Exit
We will take those three files and put it in a temporary place. After deleting the folder, it will restore those three files.
xcopy "test" "C:\temp"
xcopy "test2" "C:\temp"
del C:\myprogram\sync\
xcopy "C:\temp" "test"
xcopy "C:\temp" "test2"
del "c:\temp"
Use the XCOPY command:
xcopy "C:\myprogram\html\data.sql" /c /d /h /e /i /y "C:\myprogram\sync\"
I will explain what the /c /d /h /e /i /y means:
/C Continues copying even if errors occur.
/D:m-d-y Copies files changed on or after the specified date.
If no date is given, copies only those files whose
source time is newer than the destination time.
/H Copies hidden and system files also.
/E Copies directories and subdirectories, including empty ones.
Same as /S /E. May be used to modify /T.
/T Creates directory structure, but does not copy files. Does not
include empty directories or subdirectories. /T /E includes
/I If destination does not exist and copying more than one file,
assumes that destination must be a directory.
/Y Suppresses prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an
existing destination file.
`To see all the commands type`xcopy /? in cmd
Call other batch file with option sync.bat myprogram.ini.
I am not sure what you mean by this, but if you just want to open both of these files you just put the path of the file like
Path/sync.bat
Path/myprogram.ini
If it was in the Bash environment it was easy for me, but I do not
know how to test if a file or folder exists and if it is a file or
folder.
You are using a batch file. You mentioned earlier you have to create a .bat file to use this:
I have to create a .BAT file that does this:

Answer 3

Type IF /? to get help about if, it clearly explains how to use IF EXIST.
To delete a complete tree except some folders, see the answer of this question: Windows batch script to delete everything in a folder except one
Finally copying just means calling COPY and calling another bat file can be done like this:
MYOTHERBATFILE.BAT sync.bat myprogram.ini