Reading a Text File and Reacting (Batch) - batch-file

I looked for quite a while and couldn't find a good solution to my problem. I want a batch program to "look" in a .txt file for the command "" and if that word is in it, then to execute a different command. If the command existed, I would want to do something like set %textfile%=text.txt and if that worked I would then do if %textfile%==update goto update which would be an easy way to start an automatic update if this was in a loop. So basically, is there a command that sets a text file in %text%? This is the code that I am trying to add this into:
#echo off
color 0f
:start
echo Welcome to Master control pannel
ping 127.1 -n 4 >nul
cls
:options
cls
echo What would you like to do first? (Type the number of the operation you want to start)
echo.
ping 127.1 -n 2 >nul
echo 1. Run a command off of all computers
::(I want to run a command by sending a message to a text file but want recieving computor to be able to read it and execute it, how could I read the command and then do what it say, for example, if the command says "echo Hello" I would want recieving computor to say "Hello" )
echo 2. Stops the current command
echo 3. List all computers
echo 4. Open remote shutdown program
echo 5. Delete a computor (in progress)
echo 6. (Unfinished)
echo 7. (Unfinished)
echo 8. (Unfinished)
echo 9. (Unfinished)
echo 10. Exit
set /p choose=(1-9):
if %choose%==1 goto o1
if %choose%==2 goto o2
if %choose%==3 goto o3
if %choose%==4 goto o4
if %choose%==5 goto o5
if %choose%==6 goto close
if %choose%==7 goto close
if %choose%==8 goto close
if %choose%==9 goto close
if %choose%==10 goto o10
goto options
:close
cls
goto start
:o1
echo Stopping current command
del command.txt
echo. 2>command.txt
echo Command stopped!
pause
cls
goto start
I would greatly appreciate some help or comments to what I could do or add to this. Thanks!

Not an answer but several hints.
a variable can hold only single lines not a whole file.
if you want to get the first line of a file into a var use `Set /P "var="
set %textfile%=text.txt would store test.txt literally into a var whose name is the content of the var textfile.
you are mixing goto o1 and :01 with the label
`

Related

Why Are All My Programs Opening When I Call One Function That's Supposed To Start One Program?

I'm tryng to write a batch file which starts programs, but two problems arise:
If I use one command, it opens the others (i.e. If I open the calculator, it also opens the curler
Here is the code for my program:
#echo off
cls
title Console
:prompt
set /p prompt=:
goto %prompt%
:help
echo Commands
echo ---------------
echo help........................Shows this list
echo calc........................Starts the CMD Calculator
echo retaskbar...................Starts the Taskbar Fixer
echo curler......................Starts the Curler
echo webping.....................Starts Website Pinger
echo.
pause
goto prompt
:calc
start calc.exe
:retaskbar
start retaskbar.exe
:curler
start curler.exe
:webping
start webping.exe
I'm planning to turn this into a single exe file for more convenience.

Is it possible to create an interactive notepad within batch script that saves users input

I'm in the process of creating a mini-game using batch and one of the useful tool ideas was to have an interactive notepad so that users could store information throughout the game and refer back to it later. So far I have created the option to goto a notepad within an In-game pause menu but wasn't sure if it was possible to save results without outputting to new file on the desktop
:PauseMenu
cls
echo.
echo %Alias%
echo.
echo Notepad
echo Stats
echo Untitled2
echo Untitled3
echo Untitled4
echo Untitled5
echo Untitled6
set/p PauseMenu="N, S"
IF ["%PauseMenu%"]==["N"] goto Notepad
IF ["%PauseMenu%"]==["S"] goto Stats
IF ["%PauseMenu%"]==["N"] goto
IF ["%PauseMenu%"]==["N"] goto
IF ["%PauseMenu%"]==["N"] goto
IF ["%PauseMenu%"]==["N"] goto
IF ["%PauseMenu%"]==["N"] goto
Any help would be appreciated, thanks.
PS is it possible to go back to the previous page from a menu?
Simplicity itself.
First, some renaming may be in order. notepad is a supplied utility and pausemenu is being used both as a variable and as a label. This is not invalid, but can be a little confusing.
Further, if you are choosing between a set of keys, I'd suggest you investigate choice. choice has a number of advantages, like it only accepts one character, no enter is required and it's not necessary to analyse the entry.
So: revising your code:
:p_pausemenu
pause
:PauseMenu
cls
echo.
echo %Alias%
echo.
echo N Notepad
echo S Stats
echo 1 Untitled2
echo Z Untitled3
echo Q Untitled4
echo J Untitled5
echo X Untitled6
:: Note that the processing of ERRORLEVEL must be in reverse order
choice /c ns1zqjx
if errorlevel 7 goto labelx
if errorlevel 6 goto labelj
if errorlevel 5 goto labelq
if errorlevel 4 goto labelz
if errorlevel 3 goto label1
if errorlevel 2 goto stats
if errorlevel 1 goto unotepad
:unotepad
start "Notes for %alias%" notepad "c:\gamedirectory\%alias%.txt"
goto pausemenu
:stats
:: List your stats here
echo Stats for %alias%
goto p_pausemenu
Here, a menu with a number of unimplemented options is presented and the choice command (see choice /? from the prompt for more options) waits for a choice to be made.
errorlevel is set according to the choice made - but since if errorlevel n means if errorlevel is n OR GREATER THAN n you need to process errorlevel in reverse order.
Then each selection is processed. n will start a notepad instance and load the alias.txt file from the game directory, then present the menu again as it returns to pausemenu. s will show the stats (idk what you need for that) and then return to p_pausemenu which will pause and then proceed to show the menu when the user signals to do so.

Call batch within batch?

How do I call multiple batch files within a single batch? When I try it always goes to the same one or none at all and closes window.
#echo off
:MENU
title MENU0
Echo 1 - Select Menu 1
Echo 2 - Select Menu 2
Echo 0 - Exit
Echo.
SET /P choice=Type the number or letter of task you want, then press ENTER:
IF %choice%==1 GOTO 1
IF %choice%==2 GOTO 2
IF %choice%==0 EXIT
:1
call %userprofile%\desktop\\Menu1.bat
:2
call %userprofile%\desktop\Menu2.bat
There are several issues with provided batch code in question.
The first one is that after processing of the batch file called with command CALL finished, the processing of current batch file continues with the next command respectively line, except the called batch file contains itself the command EXIT without parameter /B as in this case the command processor terminates itself independent on calling hierarchy.
For details about CALL behavior see answers on:
How to call a batch file in the parent folder of current batch file?
In a Windows batch file, can you chain-execute something that is not another batch file?
The second issue is that folder path assigned to environment variable USERPROFILE could contain 1 or more spaces (default on Windows 2000/XP, possible on later Windows versions depending on user name). Therefore always enclose a string referencing USERPROFILE or USERNAME in double quotes.
The third and most difficult to handle issue is that the user of a batch file on prompt with set /P has the freedom to enter anything and not just what the writer of the batch file suggests.
For example
SET /P choice=Type the number or letter of task you want, then press ENTER:
IF %choice%==1 GOTO 1
results in an exit of batch processing caused by a syntax error if the batch user hits just RETURN or ENTER without entering anything at all and the environment variable choice is not already defined with a useful string because in this case the next line to process by command processor is:
IF ==1 GOTO 1
It is good practice to define the environment variable with a default value before set /P as this value is kept when the batch user just hits RETURN or ENTER.
A batch user has also the freedom on using set /P to enter anything including syntax critical characters like " or < or | or > and others by mistake or intentionally (for breaking batch processing by a syntax error).
Therefore it is in general better for menus in batch files to use the command choice (Microsoft article) because then the batch user can enter only what the writer of the batch file offers. But CHOICE is available only by default for Windows Server 2003 and later Windows. And there are different versions of choice (SS64 article with additional information) with a different set of options. So it depends on which Windows version(s) the batch file is designed for if CHOICE can be used at all.
It is also not good to name an environment variable or a label like a command although possible. Therefore choice is not a good name for an environment variable.
Here is a commented batch file with a code which avoids all those issues.
#echo off
:MainMenu
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
title MENU0
cls
echo 1 - Select Menu 1
echo 2 - Select Menu 2
echo 0 - Exit
echo.
rem Define 0 as default value in case of user just hits RETURN or ENTER.
set "UsersChoice=0"
set /P "UsersChoice=Type the number or letter of task you want, then press ENTER: "
rem Has the user really entered just one of the offered characters?
rem There must be nothing to process if the user has entered just 0
rem or 1 or 2. Otherwise the user's choice was either by mistake or
rem intentionally entered wrong. The string entered by the user is
rem referenced with delayed expansion to avoid an exit of batch
rem processing in case of user entered a syntax critical character.
for /F "tokens=1 delims=012" %%I in ("!UsersChoice!") do (
endlocal
goto MainMenu
)
rem Now it is safe to reference the variable value without usage of delayed
rem expansion as a syntax error caused by user input can't occur anymore.
rem The entered string does not contain any not expected character. But
rem it is possible that for example 11 was entered by mistake instead
rem of just 1. The entered string should have a length of 1 character.
if not "%UsersChoice:~1,1%" == "" (
endlocal
goto MainMenu
)
rem Exit this batch processing on user entered 0. Previous environment is
rem automatically restored by command processor by an implicit endlocal.
if "%UsersChoice%" == "0" exit /B
rem Restore previous environment as the called batch files are most
rem likely written for using standard command environment with delayed
rem expansion not enabled (exclamation mark interpreted different).
rem The current value of local environment variable must be passed
rem to previous environment for usage on GOTO command.
endlocal & goto Menu%UsersChoice%
:Menu1
call "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\Menu1.bat"
goto MainMenu
:Menu2
call "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\Menu2.bat"
goto MainMenu
For understanding the used commands and how they work, open a command prompt window, execute there the following commands, and read entirely all help pages displayed for each command very carefully.
call /?
cls /?
echo /?
endlocal /?
exit /?
for /?
goto /?
rem /?
set /?
setlocal /?
title /?
For meaning of & in line endlocal & goto Menu%UsersChoice% see answer on Single line with multiple commands using Windows batch file.
I tried your code and what I found was that when the input was 1 both :1 and :2 are executed but when the input is 2 only :2 is executed. To fix this you need to specify the end of :1 using Exit or another goto.
You might see that none the batches are being executed IF you do not put a pause in the end of your script. They would be executed but the result might just flash out of the screen.
Also I do not understand why have you used \\Menu1.batand not \Menu1.bat in
:1
call %userprofile%\desktop\\Menu1.bat
The final working code for me-
#echo off
:MENU
title MENU0
Echo 1 - Select Menu 1
Echo 2 - Select Menu 2
Echo 0 - Exit
Echo.
SET /P choice=Type the number or letter of task you want, then press ENTER:
IF %choice%==1 GOTO 1
IF %choice%==2 GOTO 2
IF %choice%==0 EXIT
:1
call yourpathhere\Menu1.bat
pause
GOTO cont
:2
call whatsoever\Menu2.bat
pause
GOTO cont
:cont
exit
That should fix your problem.
Hope I helped.
I may not be a pro, but I could help you!
I always add extra code on my games in order to avoid bugs, like this:
set /p letter=
if %letter% == 1 goto nocheck1
if %letter% == 2 goto nocheck2
if %letter% == 3 exit
:nocheck1
if %letter% == 1 goto saves
:nocheck2
if %letter% == 2 goto howtoplay
Maybe it could work on your problem!
I might have the code to do it:
#echo off
cls
:menu
cls
echo 1. Open Batch 1
echo 2. Open Batch 2
set /p test=Enter number here ----->
if %test% == 1 goto check1
if %test% == 2 goto check2
Edit the "Batch file name" text with your location of your batch file.
:check1
if %test% == 1 start C:\Users\%username%\Desktop\(batch file name).bat
:check2
if %test% == 2 start C:\Users\%username%\Desktop\(batch file name).bat
If there's still any errors with my code, let me know.
Hope this helps your problem!
Use cd to go to the location of batch file. For example:
rem myscript
echo calling batch file
cd demo\desktop\script
execute.bat
echo done
After the execution of that batch, control will return to the next line of your script.
Use "Start" instead of "Call" like so,
#echo off
:MENU
title MENU0
Echo 1 - Select Menu 1
Echo 2 - Select Menu 2
Echo 0 - Exit
Echo.
SET /P choice=Type the number or letter of task you want, then press ENTER:
IF %choice%==1 GOTO 1
IF %choice%==2 GOTO 2
IF %choice%==0 EXIT
:1
start %userprofile%\desktop\\Menu1.bat
:2
start %userprofile%\desktop\Menu2.bat
Try This:
#echo off
:MENU
title MENU0
Echo 1 - Select Menu 1
Echo 2 - Select Menu 2
Echo 0 - Exit
Echo.
SET /P choice=Type the number or letter of task you want, then press
Enter:
IF %choice%==1 GOTO 1
IF %choice%==2 GOTO 2
IF %choice%==0 EXIT
:1
cd users
cd %userprofile%
cd desktop
:: call Menu1.bat or use: start Menu1.bat
:: exit
:2
cd users
cd %userprofile%
cd desktop
:: call Menu2.bat or use: start Menu2.bat
:: exit
start "" C:\location\of\file\file.bat
This opens a new window, and as long as you have more commands to follow, the previous file that is calling the new one will still run along with this one.

Problems in my simple chat program

I made a simple batch chat that write the message to an txt file.
I need help with print the file every time it changed and with hidding output.
I used the type, delay and cls to print the file but it didnt work, it didnt printed the file.
launcher.bat:
start cmd /k
call room.bat
call chat.bat
using the launcher photo
room.bat(the problem):
:chat1
cls
TYPE room.txt
timeout /t 0.5
goto chat1
chat.bat(working but show extra info about the os and the file):
#echo off
cls
set D=%Date%
cls
echo enter your name
SET /P name=[name]
pause
:room
cls
SET /P chatpublic=[everyone]
SET "
echo %name%: %chatpublic% |%D%|>> room.txt
pause
goto room
without the launcher photo
Here's the culprit:
echo %name%: %chatpublic% |%D%|>> room.txt
That's because the | vertical line has a special meaning in Windows command line interpreter: commandA | commandB: pipe the output from commandA into commandB.
If you do want use a | vertical line in another sense (e.g. display it with an echo command), then you should escape it as follows:
echo %name%: %chatpublic% ^|%D%^|>> room.txt

Update a batch file from another batch file

Dear StackOverFlow Members,
Please help me with this batch file. I would like to use the answer given from the "SET /P INPUT=%=%" and have it update another batch file permanently.
This is the first batch file that runs to get an answer from the user
#echo off
cls
echo.
echo .................................................................
echo ..... Specify what the name of the Store is, this will send .....
echo ............... alerts to abd#abc.co.za ..............
echo .................................................................
echo.
pause
:option
cls
color 5E
echo.
echo "............ Press 1 to specify what the store name is......"
echo "............ Press 2 to exit the program ................."
echo.
SET /P M=Type from the menu above 1 or 2 then press ENTER:
IF %M%==1 GOTO SEND
IF %M%==2 GOTO EOF
:SEND
cls
color 0A
set INPUT=
set /P INPUT=Enter Store Name: %=%
if "%INPUT%"=="" goto input
echo "You said that the store name is: %INPUT%"
:: Have the user confirm his/her choice
SET /P ANSWER=Is the name correct (Y/N)?
echo You chose: %ANSWER%
if /i {%ANSWER%}=={y} (goto :yes)
if /i {%ANSWER%}=={yes} (goto :yes)
goto :no
:yes
echo You pressed YES!... The name is updating
goto name
:no
echo You pressed NO!... The program will exit
pause
cls
goto eof
:name
::set /A store=%INPUT%
echo %INPUT% >> notify_support.bat
::Terminate the program
:EOF
As you can see I am struggling to specify where I should "echo %INPUT% >> notify_support.bat". This is code taken from the second batch file
#echo off
call senditquiet -s smtp.gmail.com -port 587 -u rsupp0rt#gmail.com -protocol ssl -p access -f rsupp0rt#gmail.com -t 888#gmail.com -subject "Store ABC" -body "Hello there, There is an issue logged at the store.<br>Best regards."
When the first batch file runs, it updates the second one but just dumps it at the end of the file.
I need the INPUT ECHOed to replace "Store ABC" in the second batch file.
Please assist, I'm rather rusty with batch files.
echo %INPUT% >> notify_support.bat
That line contains >> which means 'dump at the end of the file'. You can use a single > to overwrite the existing file contents. That way, you can re-generate the whole file (which is only 2 lines anyway).
A different solution is to actually parse the exising file and replace that text. You can do that by using for /F ..., which allows you to traverse through the lines of a file. You can then generate a new file, based on the (altered) contents of the existing file. Disadvantage is that this file-parsing method is especially suitable for data files in which each line has the same format with fields and delimiters (like a CSV file). It is less suited for parsing 'complex' files like a batch file or program source file.
try the code:
#echo off
echo Welcome
echo > echo #echo off >> batchfilename.bat
echo > echo echo hello >> batchfilename.bat
echo > echo pause >> batchfilename.bat
it will input the code into the batch file and when you run batchfilename.bat you will get something like:
hello
press any key to continue . . .

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