You'll find yourself shouting about how much you love batch scripts - once you taste their power, their simplicity, their naughtness - they can be a time saver - but also fun! Who needs crosswords and wordsearches - when you have batch files!!
• Have fun with batch scripting
• Learn basics of batch script
• Develop helpful scripts (common scripts)
• Fun scripts (mini games/tools)
• Learn through practical examples
To kick things off, here's the "Hello, World!" script in batch:
@echo off echo Hello, World! pause
The single most popular, minimal, and universally recognized batch script is undoubtedly the classic "Hello, World!" script.
Why Learn Batch Scripting?? Learning batch scripting opens up a world of powerful, practical, and incredibly fun possibilities right at your fingertips! With just a few lines of code, you gain control over your computer in ways that feel almost magical—automating tasks, creating custom tools, and solving complex problems with ease. Batch scripting empowers you to streamline repetitive tasks, organize your files instantly, and even interact with your system’s environment in ways that most users only dream of. And it doesn’t stop there! Batch scripting is an ideal gateway into programming logic, making it a valuable and entertaining skill that sparks creativity and sharpens problem-solving skills. Whether you're scripting simple file operations or creating your own mini-games for fun, the journey of mastering batch scripting is endlessly rewarding and downright exciting!
Interesting Scripts
Fun with Recursive Functions
Who said the batch language isn't very modular?! Did you know that you can write functions (even recursive ones)?
Click for details
We define a function in the bat file using a 'label' - then call it! Easy?
The example script below creates a function called
"add"
, is just a label and what comes after it in the same line are ignored
/
free text.
As a convention, we put the argument number and its description. The
"add"
function is defined to take a return variable name (argument
#1
) and two numbers
"a"
(argument
#2
) and
"b"
(argument
#3
).
The
"main"
function calls
"add"
using the
"call :func_name"
syntax and passing the arguments thereafter. When
"add"
returns, it may call
"goto :eof"
or
"exit /b <return_code>"
.
@echo off
setlocal
:main echo Hello! set /p a=Enter the first number: set /p b=Enter the second number:
call :add result %a% %b% echo The result is: %result% goto :eof
:add <1=return var> <2=first number> <3=second number> echo Adding '%2' and '%3'. Returning the result into the variable '%1' set /a %1=%2+%3 goto :eof
Mixing Python and Batch files
A very fun trick is when we can have a script that runs successfully under two or more languages. Let's illustrate how to do a mixed script for running Python and Batch files.
Click for details
The below is a Batch script that invokes itself again as a Python script using the
"python -x"
switch (skip the first line).
Such scripts is useful when you first want a Batch script to set up or verify the right environment before invoking its embedded Python code.
@echo off rem = """ :: From here and on, write any Batch file syntax and it will be ignored by Python
python -x "%~f0" %* exit /b %errorlevel% :: End of batch file commands """
# Anything here is interpreted by Python
import platform import sys
print("Hello world from Python %s!\n" % platform.python_version()) print("The passed arguments are: %s" % sys.argv[1:])
Mixing C++ and Batch files
Similar to the previous example with Python, we can make a Batch file script that is also a C++ program. Here's how we can make a self-compiling C++ Batch script.
Click for details
There's a slight drawback in this script below. The first line (
"/*"
a C multi-line comment opening) is not a valid command and it will cause an error - but we redirect the error to the
nul
device. We close the multi-line comment (with
"*/"
) shortly after exiting the Batch file.
/* 2>nul && echo | set /p= @echo off setlocal echo. :: :: Self-compiling C++ Batch file! ::
set keys_moves=zaxsbgnhdfcv set keys_rotate=kilom,
set keys[%keys_moves:~0,1%]="%le_y_1%" "%le_y_2%" set keys[%keys_moves:~1,1%]="%le_y_2%" "%le_y_1%" set keys[%keys_moves:~2,1%]="%ri_y_1%" "%ri_y_2%" set keys[%keys_moves:~3,1%]="%ri_y_2%" "%ri_y_1%" set keys[%keys_moves:~4,1%]="%le_z_1%" "%le_z_2%" set keys[%keys_moves:~5,1%]="%le_z_2%" "%le_z_1%" set keys[%keys_moves:~6,1%]="%ri_z_1%" "%ri_z_2%" set keys[%keys_moves:~7,1%]="%ri_z_2%" "%ri_z_1%" set keys[%keys_moves:~8,1%]="%up_x_1%" "%up_x_2%" set keys[%keys_moves:~9,1%]="%up_x_2%" "%up_x_1%" set keys[%keys_moves:~10,1%]="%dw_x_1%" "%dw_x_2%" set keys[%keys_moves:~11,1%]="%dw_x_2%" "%dw_x_1%" set keys[%keys_rotate:~0,1%]="%le_y_1% %md_y_1% %ri_y_1%" "%le_y_2% %md_y_2% %ri_y_2%" set keys[%keys_rotate:~1,1%]="%le_y_2% %md_y_2% %ri_y_2%" "%le_y_1% %md_y_1% %ri_y_1%" set keys[%keys_rotate:~2,1%]="%le_z_1% %md_z_1% %ri_z_1%" "%le_z_2% %md_z_2% %ri_z_2%" set keys[%keys_rotate:~3,1%]="%le_z_2% %md_z_2% %ri_z_2%" "%le_z_1% %md_z_1% %ri_z_1%" set keys[%keys_rotate:~4,1%]="%up_x_1% %md_x_1% %dw_x_1%" "%up_x_2% %md_x_2% %dw_x_2%" set keys[%keys_rotate:~5,1%]="%up_x_2% %md_x_2% %dw_x_2%" "%up_x_1% %md_x_1% %dw_x_1%"
set colors[0]= set colors[1]=[31m#[0m set colors[2]=[34mO[0m set colors[3]=[33m%%[0m set colors[4]=[32m@[0m set colors[5]=[93m.[0m
for /l %%f in (0, 1, 5) do ( for /l %%x in (0,1,8) do ( set /a res = %%f*9+%%x set a[!res!]=!colors[%%f]! ) )
cls echo Scrambling... for /l %%f in (0, 1, 100) do ( set /a res=!random! %% 12 call call call:rotate %%%%keys[%%keys_moves:~!res!,1%%]%%%% <nul set /p=^| ) set count=0 set proj=0
:loop cls if %proj%==0 (call:isometric) else (call:cabinet)
if defined com set com=!com:~1! if not defined com (set /p "com=Enter command: ") if not defined com goto loop
if /i !com!==exit cls & goto exit if /i !com!==proj set /a "proj=(!proj!+1)%%2" & set com= & goto loop
call:rotate !keys[%com:~0,1%]!
if not "%keys_moves%"=="!keys_moves:%com:~0,1%=!" ( set /a count+=1 for /l %%f in (0, 9, 45) do ( set /a res=%%f+1 set /a res2=%%f+8 for /l %%n in (!res!, 1, !res2!) do ( if not !a[%%f]!==!a[%%n]! goto loop ) ) goto end ) goto loop
:end cls echo You won^^! Congratulations^^! echo You solved the cube in %count% moves. pause endlocal exit /b
:exit set /p com=Are you sure you want to exit? (Y/N) if /i %com%==y ( endlocal exit /b ) if /i %com%==n ( set com= goto loop ) echo Invalid selection. goto exit
:isometric echo /\ echo /%a[0]%%a[0]%\ echo /%a[0]%%a[0]%%a[0]%%a[0]%\ echo /\%a[0]%%a[0]%%a[0]%%a[0]%/\ echo /%a[3]%%a[3]%\%a[0]%%a[0]%/%a[1]%%a[1]%\ echo /%a[3]%%a[3]%%a[3]%%a[3]%\/%a[1]%%a[1]%%a[1]%%a[1]%\ Moves: %count% echo /\%a[3]%%a[3]%%a[3]%%a[3]%/\%a[1]%%a[1]%%a[1]%%a[1]%/\ +---------------------+ echo /%a[6]%%a[6]%\%a[3]%%a[3]%/%a[4]%%a[4]%\%a[1]%%a[1]%/%a[2]%%a[2]%\ ^| CONTROLS: ^| echo /%a[6]%%a[6]%%a[6]%%a[6]%\/%a[4]%%a[4]%%a[4]%%a[4]%\/%a[2]%%a[2]%%a[2]%%a[2]%\ +----------+----------+ echo ^|\%a[6]%%a[6]%%a[6]%%a[6]%/\%a[4]%%a[4]%%a[4]%%a[4]%/\%a[2]%%a[2]%%a[2]%%a[2]%/^| ^|MOVES ^|ROTATIONS ^| echo ^|\\%a[6]%%a[6]%/%a[7]%%a[7]%\%a[4]%%a[4]%/%a[5]%%a[5]%\%a[2]%%a[2]%//^| ^| U d ^| X i ^| echo ^|%a[9]%\\/%a[7]%%a[7]%%a[7]%%a[7]%\/%a[5]%%a[5]%%a[5]%%a[5]%\//%a[20]%^| ^| U' f ^| X' k ^| echo ^|%a[9]%%a[9]%\\%a[7]%%a[7]%%a[7]%%a[7]%/\%a[5]%%a[5]%%a[5]%%a[5]%//%a[20]%%a[20]%^| ^| D v ^| Y m ^| echo ^|%a[9]%%a[9]%^|\\%a[7]%%a[7]%/%a[8]%%a[8]%\%a[5]%%a[5]%//^|%a[20]%%a[20]%^| ^| D' c ^| Y' , ^| echo ^|\%a[9]%^|%a[10]%\\/%a[8]%%a[8]%%a[8]%%a[8]%\//%a[19]%^|%a[20]%/^| ^| R s ^| Z l ^| echo ^|%a[12]%\^|%a[10]%%a[10]%\\%a[8]%%a[8]%%a[8]%%a[8]%//%a[19]%%a[19]%^|/%a[23]%^| ^| R' x ^| Z' o ^| echo ^|%a[12]%%a[12]%\%a[10]%%a[10]%^|\\%a[8]%%a[8]%//^|%a[19]%%a[19]%/%a[23]%%a[23]%^| ^| L z +----------+ echo ^|%a[12]%%a[12]%^|\%a[10]%^|%a[11]%\\//%a[18]%^|%a[19]%/^|%a[23]%%a[23]%^| ^| L' a ^|CHANGE ^| echo ^|\%a[12]%^|%a[13]%\^|%a[11]%%a[11]%\/%a[18]%%a[18]%^|/%a[22]%^|%a[23]%/^| ^| F b ^|PROJECTION^| echo ^|%a[15]%\^|%a[13]%%a[13]%\%a[11]%%a[11]%^|^|%a[18]%%a[18]%/%a[22]%%a[22]%^|/%a[26]%^| ^| F' g ^| proj^| echo ^|%a[15]%%a[15]%\%a[13]%%a[13]%^|\%a[11]%^|^|%a[18]%/^|%a[22]%%a[22]%/%a[26]%%a[26]%^| ^| B h +----------+ echo ^|%a[15]%%a[15]%^|\%a[13]%^|%a[14]%\^|^|/%a[21]%^|%a[22]%/^|%a[26]%%a[26]%^| ^| B' n ^|EXIT exit^| echo \%a[15]%^|%a[16]%\^|%a[14]%%a[14]%^|^|%a[21]%%a[21]%^|/%a[25]%^|%a[26]%/ +----------+----------+ echo \^|%a[16]%%a[16]%\%a[14]%%a[14]%^|^|%a[21]%%a[21]%/%a[25]%%a[25]%^|/ echo \%a[16]%%a[16]%^|\%a[14]%^|^|%a[21]%/^|%a[25]%%a[25]%/ echo \%a[16]%^|%a[17]%\^|^|/%a[24]%^|%a[25]%/ echo \^|%a[17]%%a[17]%^|^|%a[24]%%a[24]%^|/ echo \%a[17]%%a[17]%^|^|%a[24]%%a[24]%/ echo \%a[17]%^|^|%a[24]%/ echo \^|^|/ echo \/ exit /b 0
:cabinet echo Moves: %count% echo ---------------// +---------------------+ echo /%a[0]%%a[0]%%a[0]%%a[0]%/%a[1]%%a[1]%%a[1]%%a[1]%/%a[2]%%a[2]%%a[2]%%a[2]%//^| ^| CONTROLS: ^| echo /----/----/----//%a[20]%^| +----------+----------+ echo /%a[3]%%a[3]%%a[3]%%a[3]%/%a[4]%%a[4]%%a[4]%%a[4]%/%a[5]%%a[5]%%a[5]%%a[5]%//^|%a[20]%^| ^|MOVES ^|ROTATIONS ^| echo /----/----/----//%a[19]%^|/^| ^| U d ^| X i ^| echo /%a[6]%%a[6]%%a[6]%%a[6]%/%a[7]%%a[7]%%a[7]%%a[7]%/%a[8]%%a[8]%%a[8]%%a[8]%//^|%a[19]%^|%a[23]%^| ^| U' f ^| X' k ^| echo /----/----/----//%a[18]%^|/^|%a[23]%^| ^| D v ^| Y m ^| echo ^|%a[9]%%a[9]%%a[9]%%a[9]%^|%a[10]%%a[10]%%a[10]%%a[10]%^|%a[11]%%a[11]%%a[11]%%a[11]%^|^|%a[18]%^|%a[22]%^|/^| ^| D' c ^| Y' , ^| echo ^|%a[9]%%a[9]%%a[9]%%a[9]%^|%a[10]%%a[10]%%a[10]%%a[10]%^|%a[11]%%a[11]%%a[11]%%a[11]%^|^|/^|%a[22]%^|%a[26]%^| ^| R s ^| Z l ^| echo ^|----+----+----^|^|%a[21]%^|/^|%a[26]%^| ^| R' x ^| Z' o ^| echo ^|%a[12]%%a[12]%%a[12]%%a[12]%^|%a[13]%%a[13]%%a[13]%%a[13]%^|%a[14]%%a[14]%%a[14]%%a[14]%^|^|%a[21]%^|%a[25]%^|/ ^| L z +----------+ echo ^|%a[12]%%a[12]%%a[12]%%a[12]%^|%a[13]%%a[13]%%a[13]%%a[13]%^|%a[14]%%a[14]%%a[14]%%a[14]%^|^|/^|%a[25]%/ ^| L' a ^|CHANGE ^| echo ^|----+----+----^|^|%a[24]%^|/ ^| F b ^|PROJECTION^| echo ^|%a[15]%%a[15]%%a[15]%%a[15]%^|%a[16]%%a[16]%%a[16]%%a[16]%^|%a[17]%%a[17]%%a[17]%%a[17]%^|^|%a[24]%/ ^| F' g ^| proj^| echo ^|%a[15]%%a[15]%%a[15]%%a[15]%^|%a[16]%%a[16]%%a[16]%%a[16]%^|%a[17]%%a[17]%%a[17]%%a[17]%^|^|/ ^| B h +----------+ echo +--------------^|/ ^| B' n ^|EXIT exit^| echo +----------+----------+ exit /b 0
:rotate set r1=%~1 set r2=%~2
set x=0 for %%r in (%r1%) do ( set r1[!x!]=%%r set l[!x!]=!a[%%r]! set /a x=!x!+1 ) set x=0 for %%r in (%r2%) do ( set r2[!x!]=%%r set /a x=!x!+1 ) for /l %%r in (0, 1, %x%) do ( set a[!r2[%%r]!]=!l[%%r]! set l[%%r]= set r1[%%r]= set r2[%%r]= ) exit /b 0
SET "direction=W A S D" SET "mov[W]=y]-=1" SET "mov[A]=x]-=1" SET "mov[S]=y]+=1" SET "mov[D]=x]+=1" SET "ghost[blinky]=%col:c=255;0;0%▓" SET "ghost[inky]=%col:c=0;255;255%▓" SET "ghost[pinky]=%col:c=255;184;255%▓" SET "ghost[clyde]=%col:c=255;184;82%▓" SET "ghost[base]= inky blinky pinky clyde " SET "ghost[cur]=%ghost[base]%" SET "map[pelbou]= " SET "map[powerup]=.6$7..6$23..22$7..22$23." SET map[classic]="1-19"."1-1" "19-19"."1-1" "3-4" "6-8" "12-14" "16-17" "19-19"."1-1" "19-19"."1-1" "3-4" "6-8" "12-14" "16-17" "19-19"."1-1" "19-19"."1-4" "6-8" "12-14" "16-19"."4-4" "6-6" "14-14" "16-16"."1-4" "6-6" "8-8" "12-12" "14-14" "16-19"."1-1" "8-8" "12-12" "19-19"."1-4" "6-6" "8-8" "12-12" "14-14" "16-19"."4-4" "6-6" "14-14" "16-16"."1-4" "6-8" "12-14" "16-19"."1-1" "19-19"."1-1" "3-4" "6-8" "12-14" "16-17" "19-19"."1-1" "19-19"."1-1" "3-4" "6-8" "12-14" "16-17" "19-19""1-19"."1-1" "19-19"."1-19" SET /A "char[x]=d[x]=15","char[y]=d[y]=6", "pac[invinc]=0", "score=0" SET /A "inky[x]=inky[st]=14", "inky[y]=14", "clyde[x]=clyde[st]=15", "clyde[y]=14", "blinky[x]=blinky[st]=15", "blinky[y]=12", "pinky[x]=pinky[st]=16", "pinky[y]=14"
CALL :CREATEMAP classic powerup
ECHO %ESC%[?25l%col:c=229;235;52%%ESC%[8;11HDIFFICULTY%ESC%[10;11H[A] EASY%ESC%[12;11H[B] NORMAL%ESC%[14;11H[C] HARD (CHOICE /C ABC /N)>NUL IF %errorlevel% EQU 1 ( SET "speed=55" ) else IF %errorlevel% EQU 2 ( SET "speed=45" ) else ( SET "speed=35" )
:MENU SETLOCAL DEL "%~dpn0.quit" 2>NUL "%~F0" CONTROL W >"%temp%\%~n0_signal.txt" | "%~F0" GAME <"%temp%\%~n0_signal.txt" ECHO %ESC%[25;6H[A] TO REPLAY%ESC%[26;6H[B] TO EXIT (CHOICE /C AB /N)>NUL IF %errorlevel% EQU 1 ( ENDLOCAL GOTO :MENU ) EXIT
:GAME ECHO %ESC%[2J%ESC%[5;6H%pel[disp]%%ESC%[5;5H%map[disp]%%ESC%[%char[y]%;%char[x]%H%col:c=229;235;52%█ FOR /L %%Q in (3, -1, 0) DO ( IF %%Q EQU 0 ( ECHO %ESC%[24;13HSTART ) else ( ECHO %ESC%[24;15H%%Q ) FOR /L %%J in (1, 3, 1000000) DO REM ) FOR /L %%# in () DO ( SET /P "input=" IF defined input ( 2>NUL SET /A !every:#=20! || ( FOR %%A in (!input!) DO ( SET /A "d[x]=char[x]", "d[y]=char[y]", "d[!mov[%%A]!" FOR %%Q in (".!d[y]!$!d[x]!.") DO ( IF "%map[bou]%" == "!map[bou]:%%~Q=!" ( IF not "!map[powerbou]:%%~Q=!" == "!map[powerbou]!" ( SET /A "pac[invinc]=4", "score+=50" SET "map[powerbou]=!map[powerbou]:%%~Q=!" ) else IF "!map[pelbou]:%%~Q=!" == "!map[pelbou]!" ( SET /A "score+=10" SET "map[pelbou]=!map[pelbou]!%%~Q" ) ECHO %ESC%[!char[y]!;!char[x]!H SET /A "char[!mov[%%A]!" ) ) ) ) ) 2>NUL SET /A !every:#=%speed%! || ( SET "ghost[disp]=" IF !pac[invinc]! GTR 2 ( SET "ghost[add]=%col:c=255;255;255%▒" ) else IF !pac[invinc]! GTR 0 ( SET "ghost[add]=%col:c=10;18;148%▒" ) else ( SET "ghost[add]=#" ) FOR %%G in (!ghost[cur]!) DO ( SET "ghost[dir]=N" SET /A "d[x]=%%G[x] - char[x]", "d[y]=%%G[y] - char[y]" IF !pac[invinc]! GTR 0 ( IF !d[y]! LSS 0 ( SET "ghost[dir]=W" ) else IF !d[y]! GTR 0 ( SET "ghost[dir]=S" ) IF "!ghost[dir]!" == "N" ( IF !d[x]! LSS 0 ( SET "ghost[dir]=A" ) else IF !d[x]! GTR 0 ( SET "ghost[dir]=D" ) ) ) else ( IF !d[y]! LSS 0 ( SET "ghost[dir]=S" ) else IF !d[y]! GTR 0 ( SET "ghost[dir]=W" ) IF "!ghost[dir]!" == "N" ( IF !d[x]! LSS 0 ( SET "ghost[dir]=D" ) else IF !d[x]! GTR 0 ( SET "ghost[dir]=A" ) ) ) FOR %%A in (!ghost[dir]!) DO ( SET /A "d[x]=%%G[x]", "d[y]=%%G[y]", "d[!mov[%%A]!" FOR /F "tokens=1-2" %%Q in (".!%%G[y]!$!%%G[x]!. .!d[y]!$!d[x]!.") DO ( IF "%map[bou]%" == "!map[bou]:%%~R=!" ( IF not "!map[powerbou]:%%~Q=!" == "!map[powerbou]!" ( SET "ghost[disp]=!ghost[disp]!%col:c=222;161;133%%ESC%[!%%G[y]!;!%%G[x]!H○" ) else IF "!map[pelbou]:%%~Q=!" == "!map[pelbou]!" ( SET "ghost[disp]=!ghost[disp]!%col:c=222;161;133%%ESC%[!%%G[y]!;!%%G[x]!H•" ) else ( SET "ghost[disp]=!ghost[disp]!%ESC%[!%%G[y]!;!%%G[x]!H " ) SET /A "%%G[!mov[%%A]!" ) else ( SET "dir[count]=0" SET "dir[pos]=" FOR %%D in (!direction:%%A^=!) DO ( SET /A "d[x]=%%G[x]", "d[y]=%%G[y]", "d[!mov[%%D]!" FOR %%N in (".!d[y]!$!d[x]!.") DO ( IF "%map[bou]%" == "!map[bou]:%%~N=!" ( SET /A "dir[count]+=1" SET "dir[!dir[count]!]=%%D" ) ) ) SET /A "dir[rand]=(!RANDOM! %% dir[count]) + 1" FOR %%K in (!dir[rand]!) DO ( FOR %%P in (!dir[%%K]!) DO ( IF not "!map[powerbou]:%%~Q=!" == "!map[powerbou]!" ( SET "ghost[disp]=!ghost[disp]!%col:c=222;161;133%%ESC%[!%%G[y]!;!%%G[x]!H○" ) else IF "!map[pelbou]:%%~Q=!" == "!map[pelbou]!" ( SET "ghost[disp]=!ghost[disp]!%col:c=222;161;133%%ESC%[!%%G[y]!;!%%G[x]!H•" ) else ( SET "ghost[disp]=!ghost[disp]!%ESC%[!%%G[y]!;!%%G[x]!H " ) SET /A "%%G[!mov[%%P]!" ) ) ) ) ) IF "!ghost[add]!" == "#" ( SET "ghost[disp]=!ghost[disp]!%ESC%[!%%G[y]!;!%%G[x]!H!ghost[%%G]!" IF "!%%G[y]!$!%%G[x]!" == "!char[y]!$!char[x]!" ( ECHO %ESC%[24;6HGAME OVER, PRESS [W] (COPY NUL "%~dpn0.quit")>NUL EXIT ) ) else ( IF "!%%G[y]!$!%%G[x]!" == "!char[y]!$!char[x]!" ( SET /A "%%G[y]=14", "%%G[x]=%%G[st]", "score+=200" SET "ghost[cur]=!ghost[cur]: %%G =!" ) else ( SET "ghost[disp]=!ghost[disp]!%ESC%[!%%G[y]!;!%%G[x]!H!ghost[add]!" ) ) ) ) 2>NUL SET /A !every:#=500! || ( IF !pac[invinc]! GTR 0 ( SET /A "pac[invinc]-=1" IF !pac[invinc]! EQU 0 ( SET "ghost[cur]=!ghost[base]!" ) ) ) 2>NUL SET /A !every:#=2! && ( SET "pac[col]=%col:c=229;235;52%" ) || ( SET "pac[col]=%col:c=194;157;12%" ) ECHO %ESC%[4;6H%col:c=255;255;255%!score!!pac[col]!%ESC%[!char[y]!;!char[x]!H█!ghost[disp]! SET /A "frame+=1" )
:CREATEMAP <map> <powerup> SETLOCAL SET "map[data]=!map[%~1]!" & SET "map[count]=1" SET map[!map[count]!]=%map[data]:.= & SET /A map[count]+=1 & SET map[!map[count]!]=% FOR /L %%G in (1, 1, 19) DO ( SET "pel[line]=!pel[line]!•" ) FOR /L %%# in (1, 1, %map[count]%) DO ( SET "pel[disp]=!pel[disp]!%pel[line]%%dn:n=1%%bk:n=19%" FOR %%Q in (!map[%%#]!) DO ( FOR /F "tokens=1-2 delims=-" %%A in ("%%~Q") DO ( SET "map[disp]=!map[disp]!%ESC%[5G%ESC%[%%AC" FOR /L %%P in (%%A, 1, %%B) DO ( SET /A "d[y]=%%# + 4","d[x]=%%P + 5" SET "map[bou]=!map[bou]!.!d[y]!$!d[x]!" SET "map[disp]=!map[disp]!█" ) ) ) SET "map[disp]=!map[disp]!%dn:n=1%%ESC%[5G" ) FOR %%Q in (!map[%~2]:.^= !) DO ( FOR /F "tokens=1-2 delims=$" %%A in ("%%Q") DO ( SET "pel[disp]=!pel[disp]!%ESC%[%%A;%%BH○" ) ) ENDLOCAL & SET "map[disp]=%col:c=33;33;222%%map[disp]%" & SET "map[bou]=%map[bou]%." & SET "map[powerbou]=!map[%~2]!" & SET "pel[disp]=%col:c=222;161;133%%pel[disp]%" GOTO :EOF
:CONTROL FOR /L %%C in () do ( FOR /F "tokens=*" %%A in ('CHOICE /C:WASD /N') DO ( IF exist "%~dpn0.quit" ( DEL "%~dpn0.quit" EXIT ) <NUL SET /P ".=%%A" ) ) GOTO :EOF
:MACROS FOR /F %%A in ('ECHO prompt $E^| cmd') DO SET "ESC=%%A" SET every="1/((frame %% #)^0)" SET "col=%ESC%[38;2;cm" SET "up=%ESC%[nA" SET "dn=%ESC%[nB" SET "bk=%ESC%[nD" SET "nx=%ESC%[nC" GOTO :EOF
Snake Batch (snake.bat Game)
Click for details
@ECHO OFF SETLOCAL ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION IF not "%1" == "" ( GOTO :%1 ) TITLE Snake MODE 30, 22 FOR /F %%A in ('ECHO prompt $E^| cmd') DO SET "ESC=%%A" (CHCP 65001)>NUL
SET "mov[W]=y]-=1" SET "mov[A]=x]-=1" SET "mov[S]=y]+=1" SET "mov[D]=x]+=1" SET "snake[bou]=.0;0." SET "skin[1]=%ESC%[38;2;105;78;148m▒$%ESC%[38;2;184;20;184m▓" SET "skin[2]=%ESC%[38;2;235;180;52m♣$%ESC%[38;2;209;109;38m♥" SET "skin[3]=%ESC%[38;2;212;38;61m◙$%ESC%[38;2;222;100;116m◘" SET /A "map[width]=30", "map[height]=15", "char[0][x]=d[x]=3","char[0][y]=d[y]=3","snake[mass]=1","pel[x]=0","snake[speed]=16"
CALL :MAKEMAP %map[width]% %map[height]%
SET "exit=ECHO %ESC%[1;1H%disp[kill]%%ESC%[38;2;255;255;255m%ESC%[%map[height]%;1H%ESC%[3BOuch...Press W to Continue&(COPY NUL "%~dpn0.quit")>NUL&EXIT" DEL "%~dpn0.quit" 2>NUL ECHO %ESC%[?25l%ESC%[38;2;255;255;255mChoose your skin&FOR /L %%Q in (1, 1, 3) DO ( ECHO %ESC%[B%ESC%[38;2;255;255;255m[%%Q] !skin[%%Q]:$=!!skin[%%Q]:$=!!skin[%%Q]:$=! ) (CHOICE /C 123 /N)>NUL FOR /F "tokens=1-2 delims=$" %%A in ("!skin[%errorlevel%]!") DO ( SET "snake[cha][1]=%%A"&SET "snake[cha][2]=%%B" ) SET "snake[disp]=%ESC%[%char[0][y]%;%char[0][x]%H%ESC%[38;2;184;20;184m%snake[cha][2]%"
:START SETLOCAL "%~F0" CONTROL >"%temp%\%~n0_signal.txt" | "%~F0" GAME <"%temp%\%~n0_signal.txt" ENDLOCAL GOTO :START
:GAME FOR /L %%# in () DO ( SET /P "input=" SET /A "frames+=1" IF !pel[x]! EQU 0 ( SET /A "pel[x]=!RANDOM! * ((%map[width]% - 1) - 2 + 1) / 32768 + 2", "pel[y]=!RANDOM! * ((%map[height]% - 1) - 2 + 1) / 32768 + 2" SET "pel[disp]=%ESC%[!pel[y]!;!pel[x]!H%ESC%[38;2;50;168;82m■" ) IF defined input ( FOR %%A in (!input!) DO ( IF not "!input[cur]!" == "!mov[%%A]!" ( SET "input[new]=1" ) SET "input[cur]=!mov[%%A]!" ) ) (SET /A "1/((((~(0-(frames %% snake[speed]))>>31)&1)&((~((frames %% snake[speed])-0)>>31)&1))|input[new])" 2>NUL) && ( SET /A "d[x]=char[0][x]","d[y]=char[0][y]","d[!input[cur]!","input[new]=0" IF !d[x]! LSS %map[width]% ( IF !d[x]! GTR 1 ( IF !d[y]! LSS %map[height]% ( IF !d[y]! GTR 1 ( SET "snake[disp]=" SET /A "d[shift][x]=char[0][x]=d[x]","d[shift][y]=char[0][y]=d[y]" IF "!pel[x]!;!pel[y]!" == "!d[x]!;!d[y]!" ( SET /A "pel[x]=0","snake[mass]+=1" ) IF !snake[mass]! NEQ 1 ( FOR %%Q in (".!d[x]!;!d[y]!.") DO ( IF not "!snake[bou]!" == "!snake[bou]:%%~Q=!" ( %exit% ) ) ) SET "snake[bou]=" FOR /L %%M in (1, 1, !snake[mass]!) DO ( SET "snake[bou]=!snake[bou]!.!char[%%M][x]!;!char[%%M][y]!" SET /A "d[save][x]=char[%%M][x]","d[save][y]=char[%%M][y]", "char[%%M][x]=d[shift][x]","char[%%M][y]=d[shift][y]", "d[shift][x]=d[save][x]","d[shift][y]=d[save][y]","d[disp]=%%M %% 2" IF !d[disp]! EQU 0 ( SET "snake[disp]=!snake[disp]!%ESC%[!char[%%M][y]!;!char[%%M][x]!H%ESC%[38;2;105;78;148m%snake[cha][1]%" ) else ( SET "snake[disp]=!snake[disp]!%ESC%[!char[%%M][y]!;!char[%%M][x]!H%ESC%[38;2;184;20;184m%snake[cha][2]%" ) ) SET "snake[bou]=!snake[bou]!." ) else (%exit%)) else (%exit%) ) else (%exit%)) else (%exit%) ) ECHO %ESC%[2J%ESC%[1;1H%disp[map]%!pel[disp]!!snake[disp]!%ESC%[38;2;255;255;255m%ESC%[%map[height]%;1H%ESC%[BScore : !snake[mass]!%ESC%[1G%ESC%[BUse WASD to move )
:MAKEMAP <width> <height> SETLOCAL SET "disp[border]=" FOR /L %%W in (1, 1, %1) DO ( SET "disp[border]=!disp[border]!█" ) SET /A "width[adj]=%1 - 2","height[adj]=%2 - 1" SET "disp[map]=%disp[border]%#%ESC%[B%ESC%[%1D%disp[border]%" FOR /L %%H in (2, 1, %height[adj]%) DO ( SET "disp[map]=!disp[map]:#=%ESC%[B%ESC%[%1D█%ESC%[%width[adj]%C█#!" ) SET "disp[map]=%disp[map]:#=%" ENDLOCAL&SET "disp[map]=%ESC%[38;2;148;194;224m%disp[map]%"&SET "disp[kill]=%ESC%[38;2;41;100;138m%disp[map]:█=X%" GOTO :EOF
:CONTROL FOR /L %%C in () do ( FOR /F "tokens=*" %%A in ('CHOICE /C:WASD /N') DO ( IF exist "%~dpn0.quit" ( DEL "%~dpn0.quit" EXIT ) <NUL SET /P ".=%%A" ) ) GOTO :EOF
Quick Cheatsheet
Table listing common batch (.bat) script commands, functions, and related information, including descriptions and examples:
Command/Function
Description
Example
@echo
Toggles command echoing on/off in the script.
@echo off
echo
Displays text or a message in the command prompt.
echo Hello, World!
REM
Adds a comment to the script.
REM This is a comment.
::
Alternative way to add comments.
:: Another comment style.
set
Sets or displays environment variables.
set VAR=value
%VAR%
Accesses the value of an environment variable.
echo %VAR%
if
Performs conditional processing in the script.
if "%VAR%" == "value" echo Match
goto
Jumps to a labeled section of the script.
goto :LABEL
:LABEL
Defines a label for use with `goto`.
:LABEL
call
Calls another batch file or function within the script.
call another.bat
pause
Pauses execution and waits for the user to press a key.
pause
exit
Exits the script or command prompt.
exit /b 0
for
Iterates over files, directories, or variables.
for %%i in (*.*) do echo %%i
start
Starts a new window or application.
start notepad.exe
del
Deletes one or more files.
del file.txt
copy
Copies files from one location to another.
copy source.txt destination.txt
move
Moves files from one location to another.
move file.txt C:\NewFolder
dir
Lists files and directories in a specified location.
dir C:\
cd / chdir
Changes the current directory.
cd C:\Folder
md / mkdir
Creates a new directory.
mkdir NewFolder
rmdir / rd
Removes a directory.
rmdir Folder
type
Displays the content of a text file.
type file.txt
find
Searches for a text string in a file.
find "text" file.txt
cls
Clears the command prompt screen.
cls
title
Sets the title of the command prompt window.
title My Batch Script
color
Changes the color of the command prompt text and background.
color 0A
timeout
Pauses execution for a specified time.
timeout /t 10
choice
Creates a menu for the user to select an option.
choice /c ABC
setlocal
Starts localization of environment changes.
setlocal
endlocal
Ends localization of environment changes.
endlocal
pushd
Saves the current directory and changes to a new one.
pushd C:\NewFolder
popd
Restores the previous directory saved with `pushd`.
popd
xcopy
Copies files and directories, including subdirectories.
xcopy source destination /s
robocopy
Advanced file copy with many options.
robocopy source destination
shift
Shifts command-line arguments for batch scripts.
shift
%1, %2, ...
Represents positional parameters passed to the batch script.
