Running Multiple .bat Files in Subfolders: Makeplaylist.bat Example

In this article, we will explore how to run multiple batch files located in subfolders using the Makeplaylist.bat example. Batch files are a type of script file used primarily in the Windows operating system to automate repetitive tasks. This technique is particularly useful when dealing with large numbers of files in different subfolders.

Understanding the Makeplaylist.bat File

The Makeplaylist.bat file is a simple batch script that creates a playlist file, deletes certain files, and runs perfectly in its designated folder. Let's examine the contents of this file:

Makeplaylist.bat File Contents

 @echo off
 cd %~dp0
 echo Creating playlist file...
 for %%i in (*.mp3) do echo %%i >> playlist.txt
 echo Deleting temporary files...
 del temp.txt
 

The Makeplaylist.bat file starts by turning off command echoing using the @echo off command. It then changes the current directory to the folder containing the batch file using the cd %~dp0 command. The for loop iterates through all .mp3 files in the folder and appends their names to the playlist.txt file. Lastly, it deletes a temporary file named temp.txt.

Running Multiple .bat Files in Subfolders

To run multiple .bat files in subfolders, we can create a main batch file that calls the sub-batch files using the call command. Let's create a main batch file named RunScripts.bat:

RunScripts.bat File Contents

 @echo off
 echo Starting script execution...
 for /D %%d in (*.*) do (
 if "%%~d" ne "." (
 cd %%d
 for %%i in (*.bat) do call %%~fi
 cd ..
 )
 )
 echo Script execution completed.
 

The RunScripts.bat file starts by turning off command echoing and displaying a message indicating the start of script execution. It then uses a nested for loop to iterate through all subfolders in the current directory. For each subfolder, it changes the directory, searches for .bat files, and calls them using the call command. After executing all .bat files in the subfolder, it changes back to the parent directory. Once all subfolders have been processed, it displays a message indicating the completion of script execution.

Usage

To use this script, create a new folder named "Scripts" in the directory where you want to run the script. Place the Makeplaylist.bat file and any other .bat files you want to run in subfolders within the "Scripts" folder. Create a new .bat file named RunScripts.bat in the parent directory of the "Scripts" folder and paste the contents above into it. Run the RunScripts.bat file to execute all .bat files in the subfolders.

• Batch files are a powerful tool for automating repetitive tasks in Windows.
• The Makeplaylist.bat file is a simple script that creates a playlist file and deletes temporary files.
• To run multiple .bat files in subfolders, create a main batch file that calls the sub-batch files using the call command.

For further reading, refer to the following resources:

• for Command
• call Command