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Batch. How can I start two command prompts in batch and change the directory to the second command prompt only?

I am trying to open two command prompts in batch at the same time I want to change the directory on both of them each to a different directory. how can I do that in Batch? I hope I am asking in the right place?

1st Oct 2017, 12:24 AM
Karzan
11 Respuestas
+ 2
If you mean MSDOS / Windows batch language, depending on your kernel you may be looking for a parameter to COMMAND.COM or CMD.EXE COMMAND shell COMMAND /? or CMD /? There, you'll see /C and /K. One executes a command and exits (I think it's /C). The other executes and stays running. There may be parameters to set the "working directory" on start. START And in most recent Windows, you can also use the "start" command , e.g.: start /? -- should print to console or pop up a window with parameters ...to preload certain things before executing a binary, like the "working directory". You can also create PIFs (program information files) and launch those with preconfigured parameters (working directory and start directory). BATCH JOB start If you want to just start a batch job, the actual command I think you're looking for is "CD". @ECHO OFF CD C:\place\to\land REM end of script Start that with /K and I believe the command prompt will land at that dir.
1st Oct 2017, 12:34 AM
Kirk Schafer
Kirk Schafer - avatar
+ 2
What's the output of this: C:\>test.bat "C:\WINDOWS" test.bat: @ECHO OFF CD "%1" CD
1st Oct 2017, 1:24 AM
Kirk Schafer
Kirk Schafer - avatar
+ 1
Look at this answer. The /D to "also change the drive" is extra (possibly helpful) information to the basic function: use a batch file to change the working directory: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/5138507/how-to-change-current-working-directory-using-a-batch-file This one mentions using pushd: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12363620/how-to-change-directory-then-run-command-batch-file
1st Oct 2017, 12:44 AM
Kirk Schafer
Kirk Schafer - avatar
+ 1
I believe "start" takes the context of Windows, not the command shell (I remember this as a source of confusion for people mixing these). There's a /D parameter for Start: https://stackoverflow.com/a/14842307 Just shotgunning it, you may also want to put 'cd' at the top of vsdevcmd.bat
1st Oct 2017, 12:56 AM
Kirk Schafer
Kirk Schafer - avatar
+ 1
vsdevcmd.bat: start /D "path\to\use" secondshell.bat or send it as a parameter to secondshell: secondshell.bat "path\to\use" secondshell.bat: cd "%1"
1st Oct 2017, 1:09 AM
Kirk Schafer
Kirk Schafer - avatar
+ 1
Sorry for the delay; I couldn't find the alerts for this, thought it was gone, then searched once more just in case. On a Windows XP system, I created a file: C:\>notepad test.bat @echo off CD C:\windows CD then ran it: C:\>test.bat C:\WINDOWS (output) Then I commented line 2: @ECHO OFF REM CD C:\windows CD and ran start /D ... : C:\>start /D "C:\windows" c:\test.bat <new window> C:\windows (output) (blank line) C:\windows>_ (prompt) Then I chained batch jobs (I did not test CALL): test.bat: @ECHO OFF test2.bat test2.bat: @echo off cd c:\windows\system32 C:\>test.bat C:\WINDOWS\system32>_ (prompt) In each case the working directory was changed inside the batchjob context and remained set outside of it. I'm perplexed that this isn't working for you, but I hope this answer catches something I missed.
4th Oct 2017, 9:11 PM
Kirk Schafer
Kirk Schafer - avatar
0
Thanks kirk this is what I have cd C:/ cd program files (x86)\Microsoft visual studio 12.0\common7\tools start vsdevcmd.bat this works and runs the developer command prompt but if I want to change the directory in the developer command prompt which i run in "vsdevcmd" it will not change. I see the regular cmd change
1st Oct 2017, 12:40 AM
Karzan
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still having the same issue even with the /D. the directory only changes on the first CMD but I cannt change the directry on the second one
1st Oct 2017, 12:51 AM
Karzan
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Kirk my code is actually running the start. start is not my issue. my issue is when I want to write to the second command prompt that vsdevcmd.bat will run
1st Oct 2017, 1:04 AM
Karzan
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I tried it but still not changing directory on the second command prompt
1st Oct 2017, 1:14 AM
Karzan
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I dont understand do you want me to jsut type that code and run it?
1st Oct 2017, 6:25 AM
Karzan