Skip to main content

Batch Script Frequently Used Commands

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

CommmandDescription
VERThis batch command shows the version of MS-DOS you are using.
ASSOCThis is a batch command that associates an extension with a file type (FTYPE), displays existing associations, or deletes an association.
CDThis batch command helps in making changes to a different directory, or displays the current directory.
CLSThis batch command clears the screen.
COPYThis batch command is used for copying files from one location to the other.
DELThis batch command deletes files and not directories.
DIRThis batch command lists the contents of a directory.
DATEThis batch command help to find the system date.
ECHOThis batch command displays messages, or turns command echoing on or off.
EXITThis batch command exits the DOS console.
MDThis batch command creates a new directory in the current location.
MOVEThis batch command moves files or directories between directories.
PATHThis batch command displays or sets the path variable.
PAUSEThis batch command prompts the user and waits for a line of input to be entered.
PROMPTThis batch command can be used to change or reset the cmd.exe prompt.
RDThis batch command removes directories, but the directories need to be empty before they can be removed.
RENRenames files and directories.
REMThis batch command is used for remarks in batch files, preventing the content of the remark from being executed.
STARTThis batch command starts a program in new window, or opens a document.
TIMEThis batch command sets or displays the time.
TYPEThis batch command prints the content of a file or files to the output.
VOLThis batch command displays the volume labels.
ATTRIBDisplays or sets the attributes of the files in the current directory.
CHKDSKThis batch command checks the disk for any problems.
CHOICEThis batch command provides a list of options to the user.
CMDThis batch command invokes another instance of command prompt.
COMPThis batch command compares 2 files based on the file size.
CONVERTThis batch command converts a volume from FAT16 or FAT32 file system to NTFS file system.
DRIVERQUERYThis batch command shows all installed device drivers and their properties.
EXPANDThis batch command extracts files from compressed .cab cabinet files.
FINDThis batch command searches for a string in files or input, outputting matching lines.
FORMATThis 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.
HELPThis batch command shows the list of Windows-supplied commands.
IPCONFIGThis batch command displays Windows IP Configuration. Shows configuration by connection and the name of that connection.
LABELThis batch command adds, sets or removes a disk label.
MOREThis batch command displays the contents of a file or files, one screen at a time.
NETProvides various network services, depending on the command used.
PINGThis batch command sends ICMP/IP "echo" packets over the network to the designated address.
SHUTDOWNThis batch command shuts down a computer, or logs off the current user.
SORTThis 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.
SUBSTThis batch command assigns a drive letter to a local folder, displays current assignments, or removes an assignment.
SYSTEMINFOThis batch command shows configuration of a computer and its operating system.
TASKKILLThis batch command ends one or more tasks.
TASKLISTThis batch command lists tasks, including task name and process id (PID).
XCOPYThis batch command copies files and directories in a more advanced way.
TREEThis batch command displays a tree of all subdirectories of the current directory to any level of recursion or depth.
FCThis batch command lists the actual differences between two files.
DISKPARTThis batch command shows and configures the properties of disk partitions.
TITLEThis batch command sets the title displayed in the console window.
SETDisplays the list of environment variables on the current system.