Batch Script Frequently Used Commands

The following table shows some of the frequently used batch commands:

Commmand	Description
`VER`	This batch command shows the version of MS-DOS you are using.
`ASSOC`	This is a batch command that associates an extension with a file type (FTYPE), displays existing associations, or deletes an association.
`CD`	This batch command helps in making changes to a different directory, or displays the current directory.
`CLS`	This batch command clears the screen.
`COPY`	This batch command is used for copying files from one location to the other.
`DEL`	This batch command deletes files and not directories.
`DIR`	This batch command lists the contents of a directory.
`DATE`	This batch command help to find the system date.
`ECHO`	This batch command displays messages, or turns command echoing on or off.
`EXIT`	This batch command exits the DOS console.
`MD`	This batch command creates a new directory in the current location.
`MOVE`	This batch command moves files or directories between directories.
`PATH`	This batch command displays or sets the path variable.
`PAUSE`	This batch command prompts the user and waits for a line of input to be entered.
`PROMPT`	This batch command can be used to change or reset the cmd.exe prompt.
`RD`	This batch command removes directories, but the directories need to be empty before they can be removed.
`REN`	Renames files and directories.
`REM`	This batch command is used for remarks in batch files, preventing the content of the remark from being executed.
`START`	This batch command starts a program in new window, or opens a document.
`TIME`	This batch command sets or displays the time.
`TYPE`	This batch command prints the content of a file or files to the output.
`VOL`	This batch command displays the volume labels.
`ATTRIB`	Displays or sets the attributes of the files in the curret directory.
`CHKDSK`	This batch command checks the disk for any problems.
`CHOICE`	This batch command provides a list of options to the user.
`CMD`	This batch command invokes another instance of command prompt.
`COMP`	This batch command compares 2 files based on the file size.
`CONVERT`	This batch command converts a volume from FAT16 or FAT32 file system to NTFS file system.
`DRIVERQUERY`	This batch command shows all installed device drivers and their properties.
`EXPAND`	This batch command extracts files from compressed .cab cabinet files.
`FIND`	This batch command searches for a string in files or input, outputting matching lines.
`FORMAT`	This batch command formats a disk to use Windows-supported file system such as FAT, FAT32 or NTFS, thereby overwriting the previous content of the disk.
`HELP`	This batch command shows the list of Windows-supplied commands.
`IPCONFIG`	This batch command displays Windows IP Configuration. Shows configuration by connection and the name of that connection.
`LABEL`	This batch command adds, sets or removes a disk label.
`MORE`	This batch command displays the contents of a file or files, one screen at a time.
`NET`	Provides various network services, depending on the command used.
`PING`	This batch command sends ICMP/IP "echo" packets over the network to the designated address.
`SHUTDOWN`	This batch command shuts down a computer, or logs off the current user.
`SORT`	This batch command takes the input from a source file and sorts its contents alphabetically, from A to Z or Z to A. It prints the output on the console.
`SUBST`	This batch command assigns a drive letter to a local folder, displays current assignments, or removes an assignment.
`SYSTEMINFO`	This batch command shows configuration of a computer and its operating system.
`TASKKILL`	This batch command ends one or more tasks.
`TASKLIST`	This batch command lists tasks, including task name and process id (PID).
`XCOPY`	This batch command copies files and directories in a more advanced way.
`TREE`	This batch command displays a tree of all subdirectories of the current directory to any level of recursion or depth.
`FC`	This batch command lists the actual differences between two files.
`DISKPART`	This batch command shows and configures the properties of disk partitions.
`TITLE`	This batch command sets the title displayed in the console window.
`SET`	Displays the list of environment variables on the current system.