I'm trying to output my logfiles to a subfolder relative to my install script, and MSIExec doesn't seem to like it when used with the "/l*v" command. I've tried variations of %~dp0Logs (with and without quotes, etc.). If I manually enter the full path like: /l*v c:\scripts\logs\%computername%.txt" it works fine, but the script is always going to be in different locations (USB, network, etc.).
I see references online to using the %temp% system variable which I guess works, but not the parent lookup folder variable of %dp0. And I'm using the same variable elsewhere in my script for other things, like running the MSI and file copy commands (copy "%~dp0Files\Images\%LogonBackgroundWinXP%"...). I've even tried setting a variable like: Set LogFolder=%dp0\logs, but that doesn't seem to work either.
Am I missing something or am I just going to have to find another folder lookup method just for my log files?
Thanks,
Brian
I guess all I needed was a few hours away from this and lunch! Works perfectly fine, not sure what I was doing wrong before. I was going to do a copy command afterwards, but now I don't have to.
Related
Basically, i would like to use the type command, but I can't provide the actual path.
Currently my attempt was
type "./TESTS/Test1.txt"
but I'm assuming that since it's a relative path, it can't work.
I've run into the same issue with copy and xcopy.
I have been unable to solve this issue or find anything online.
Is there way to do this?
EDIT:
To clarify, I am trying to get my .bat file, to read the contents of a .txt file located in a subfolder (meaning the subfolder and the .bat file are in the same folder), and print it to the console.
Since you've now edited your question but seemingly not provided feedback on my earlier comment, here it is as an answer.
Windows and it's command interpreter, cmd.exe uses the backslash \ as its path separator.
Although many commands seem to accept the forward slash interchangeably, Type isn't one of those.
Additionally .\ is relative only to the current working directory, and in cmd.exe is unnecessary, though valid.
The following should therefore work as you intended:
Type TESTS\Test1.txt
Type "TESTS\Test1.txt"
Type .\TESTS\Test1.txt
Type ".\TESTS\Test1.txt"
If the location you are using is being received in the batch file with the forward slashes, you could set it to a variable, then expand that variable substituting the forward slashes for backward slashes:
Set "Variable=./TESTS/Test1.txt"
Type "%Variable:/=\%"
It may be necessary, depending upon the code we cannot see, to navigate to the batch file directory first, since it may not necessarily be the current working directory at the time of the invokation of those commands.
To do that use:
CD /D "%~dp0"
%~dp0 provides the folder, where your batchfile resides (including the last \) (does of course only work inside a batch file). So:
type "%~dp0Test\test1.txt"
is exactly what you want: <folder_where_my_batchfile_is\><subfolder_Test>\<File_test1.txt>
independent of your "working folder" (where the batchfile might have cd or pushd to).
Wouldn't it basically work by using %CD%? Like, TYPE "%CD%/Subfolder/Test1.txt"? %CD% is the windows variable for "Current Directory" and should be set to whatever directory the batch file is working in and since you're trying to access a folder within the same directory this should work. You're question is quite unclear, however, and I hope I'm not misinterpreting.
My batch should solve a issue, but it doesn't quite work. I think it's simple, i just don't see it. I know it needs Admin, but i shortend the code to where the problem actually is.
copy "Data\invisble.vbs" "%appdata%\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup"
cd "%appdata%\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup"
start invisble.vbs
cls
Without seeing the rest of the code it's hard to know the context.
Please note that the %appdata% environment variable changes for each user.
Also note that copy "Data\invisble.vbs" specifies a relative path.
The easiest way to pinpoint the issue is to open up a command prompt and run each line and verify the results.
We have a 2 step process that collects all filenames from a folder into a Word document for use elsewhere.
The original process was to run an old DOS batchfile that collected the filenames into a DOS .txt. Then we launched a Word .docx with a macro that imported the .txt and massaged the formatting. After visual inspection we hit ‘Save’ and that was it.
I had the bright idea that a step could be taken out by launching Word directly from the batch, so I inserted the line: start winword filename. This works great except that the default location that Word wants to save in is now my Templates folder. Running it the old way still works perfectly.
The question is: why is the default location changed by launching Word programmatically and how can it be forced back to the correct location?
Thanks
you can use:
start /D C:\path\to\folder "" winword.exe
this program starts winword.exe and save all files to C:\path\to\folder
ill assume that winword.exe is in the current directory.
for help with the start command : http://ss64.com/nt/start.htm
I investigated the start command, but never did figure out why it operated differently. The eventual solution was to include the Save action in the macro. I still don't know why we didn't have to do that before, but it works now so we're declaring success and moving on.
I'm trying to write a small bat script to put on my teams desktops and allow them to update their personal macro file with mine when ever I push out an update or have created new tools.
I have the following
xcopy "O:\abc Supply chain\Supply Chain Team\David Peters\Excel\Macro File" "%AppData%\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART\" /y
under CMD is says 1 files copied yet there isn't anything in the XLSTART folder.
can you pleased tell me what I'm doing wrong
many thanks
Not sure about your configuration, but for me the Roaming folder is already included in the value of the %AppData% variable.
"%AppData%\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART\"
^......^
So, probably you should use "%AppData%\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART\"
I am currently writing a .bat batch file that executes an installation file. Before it runs the installation file I check to see if the directory exists to avoid re-installing the application.
I do this by using a If Not Exist filename statement. If the installed file doesn't exist, I then execute the installation file.
For some reason, when I test it with the application where it has been installed already, it is still trying to reinstall the application over it.
Here is a snippet of my code:
cd "C:\Documents and Settings\John\Start Menu\Programs\"
pause
If NOT exist "Software Folder"\ (
start \\filer\repo\lab\"software"\"myapp"\setup.exe
pause
)
Where SoftwareFolder is a subdirectory of "C:\Documents and Settings\John\Start Menu\Programs\". I am checking to see if it exists in my Programs folder.
I know nothing is wrong with my start command. I have a feeling something is wrong with my beginning CD command or one of its parameters.
Thanks a lot, guys!
Use the FULL path to the folder in your If Not Exist code. Then you won't even have to CD anymore:
If Not Exist "C:\Documents and Settings\John\Start Menu\Programs\SoftWareFolder\"
I noticed some issues with this that might be useful for someone just starting, or a somewhat inexperienced user, to know. First...
CD /D "C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Start Menu\Programs\"
two things one is that a /D after the CD may prove to be useful in making sure the directory is changed but it's not really necessary, second, if you are going to pass this from user to user you have to add, instead of your name, the code %username%, this makes the code usable on any computer, as long as they have your setup.exe file in the same location as you do on your computer. of course making sure of that is more difficult.
also...
start \\filer\repo\lab\"software"\"myapp"\setup.exe
the start code here, can be set up like that, but the correct syntax is
start "\\filter\repo\lab\software\myapp\" setup.exe
This will run: setup.exe, located in: \filter\repo\lab...etc.\
As in the answer of Escobar Ceaser, I suggest to use quotes arround the whole path. It's the common way to wrap the whole path in "", not only separate directory names within the path.
I had a similar issue that it didn't work for me. But it was no option to use "" within the path for separate directory names because the path contained environment variables, which theirself cover more than one directory hierarchies. The conclusion was that I missed the space between the closing " and the (
The correct version, with the space before the bracket, would be
If NOT exist "C:\Documents and Settings\John\Start Menu\Programs\Software Folder" (
start "\\filer\repo\lab\software\myapp\setup.exe"
pause
)