writing batch files...

Any good resources out there for writing batch files ? I used DOS around the time WIN3.1 was around, but I've forgotten most of it.

Basically I need to write a batch file that would open up an XLS file (ie. C:\test\blah.xls) everytime the batch file is clicked. And as a bonus, if it can do an "if" statement to check if the XLS is already open, to close it and open it again (fresh copy will be deposited to directory every X minutes).

Thanks!

A good place to start is BATch file Links by Vernon Frazee.

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Thanks. I've been searching for a way to CLOSE an application (Excel) via command line (within the batch file). Is this possible?

I'm not sure there is any way (without using a third party utility program) to close a window from a batch file. It would be fairly simple to write a Visual Basic program to do what you want however.

I did find kill.exe to do the job, as it kills Excel nicely.

Turns out they didn't want the entire application closed though (they have other files Excel files that need to stay open. So they wanted one file (blah.xls) closed and not Excel altogether.

Can I ask if this is possible, even with VB ?

Hi rh71,

DOS batch files are commonly used as program managers. This means that a batch file can call a program, close it when finished, and then call another program automatically, or at the user's discretion. The DOSShell was designed specifically for that reason, and yes, DOSShell will run on Win98 machines.

As a program manager, a batch file can even be used to open and close Windows programs, but DOS is also very stingy and wants complete control of the computer in order to do so. In other words, running programs called within the batch file would have focus while the batch file is running, unless one of the called programs was provisioned to call other programs into activation. In the meantime, DOS would still have full control of the computer until the batch file is finally terminated.

A batch file can be used to open and close a program. Thus, if an Excel spreadsheet is called by a batch file, then it can also be closed by that same batch file, or by a different batch file that is called by the first batch file.

Basically what you are asking is if an Excel worksheet can be opened and then closed while another worksheet is running. This is usually performed within Excel using VBA, and no batch file would really be necessary.

Of course, I am not fully aware of your current situation, so there may be a perfectly valid reason for your wanting to do this with a batch file. The most common method would be to call a batch file into operation when opening Excel. In the Properties Dialog box is a provision for including a batch file that runs when Excel is opened.

Thanks for the in-depth info.

I've given up on this "project" since the person I was doing it for will just ask her manager to just go through a few extra steps manually. Neither of them really care and since that's their attitude, I'm not going to put anymore time into this.

Thanks though!

Explanations and Help files have a tendency to confuse. So, I provided a heavily deactivated sample of a program manager based on a batch file. I had no internet connection at the time, and no VirtualDr to supply any answers. All the programs listed on the menu required very low amounts of memory. Typically DOS.

Maybe by seeing, you will decide that it is not so difficult, afterall...

The batch file will run, and following the prompts will lead it back to the main menu. Press Q to terminate the batch file.

Code:

---

@echo off
cls
cd\
c:
rem    call a program
      goto avant


:avant
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo **                        Program Manager                      **
echo.
echo                                For
echo.
echo.
echo                              * * * *
echo.
echo **                            ZAPPER                            **
echo.
echo                              * * * *
echo.
echo.
echo **                                                              **
echo **                    Select a program by menu                  **
echo **                                                              **
echo.
echo.
      pause


:gogo
echo.
echo **      ZAPPER      **      ZAPPER      **      ZAPPER        **
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo **              **    A.    ZapIt                **            **
echo **              **    B.    Disk Services        **            **
echo **              **    C.    QBasic              **            **   
echo **              **    D.    TC-Lite              **            **
echo **              **    E.    Print                **            **
echo **              **    F.    File Services        **            **
echo **              **    G.    Masm611              **            **
echo **              **    H.    DoS-Edit            **            **
echo **              **    I.    DoSShell            **            **
echo **              **    Q.    Quit ZAPPER          **            **
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo **                    ZAPPER Will Now Go To Work!                **
echo.
echo.
      cd\
      d:
      choice /c:abcdefghiq /n
      if errorlevel 10 goto endit
      if errorlevel 9 goto dshl
      if errorlevel 8 goto ed
      if errorlevel 7 goto day
      if errorlevel 6 goto dt
      if errorlevel 5 goto tx
      if errorlevel 4 goto readit
      if errorlevel 3 goto fil
      if errorlevel 2 goto dsk
      if errorlevel 1 goto fltrp


:dshl
      cd\
      c:
rem  dosshell
      goto gogo


:ed
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo **      NOW Activating The Dos Editer For APPEND! **            **
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
      choice /c:yn /n /t:y,4
      if errorlevel 2 goto gogo
      if errorlevel 1 goto eddit



:eddit
      cd\
      c:
rem    edit
      goto gogo



:day
      cd\
      c:
rem    assign a path
rem    pwb
      cd\
      c:
      goto gogo



:dt
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
      choice /c:abcde Choose:
      if errorlevel 5 goto gogo
      if errorlevel 4 goto gogo
      if errorlevel 3 goto gogo
      if errorlevel 2 goto gogo
      if errorlevel 1 goto gogo



:tx
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
      cd\
      c:

      goto gogo



:readit
rem    call a program
rem    pause
      cd\
      c:
      goto gogo



:fil
      cd\
rem    a:
rem    assign a path
rem    dir
rem    pause
      cd\
      c:
      goto gogo



:dsk
echo.
echo.
echo **      You May Now Choose Which Document To Copy To Disk      **
echo.
echo.
echo **      This Provision Will Process And File A Finished        **
echo **      Document For Printing Or Faxing At Another Time.
echo.
echo **      After Selecting The Document, The Screen Will Blank.    **
echo **      Type The Path To The Source Trip Data, And Filename.    **
echo.
echo.
echo **      A.    File A Tax Document                **            **
echo **      B.    File Another Document              **            **
echo **      C.    File A Talley Sheet                **            **
echo **      D.    Return To Main Menu                **            **
echo.
echo.
echo.
      choice /c:abcd Choose:
      if errorlevel 4 goto gogo
      if errorlevel 3 goto dald
      if errorlevel 2 goto dotd
      if errorlevel 1 goto taxd


:taxd
      cd\
      c:
rem    call a program
      goto gogo


:dotd
      cd\
      c:
rem    call a program
      goto gogo


:dald
      cd\
      c:
rem    call a program to open a document
      goto gogo



:fltrp
rem    call a program
      cd\
      c:
      goto gogo



:endit
cls
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo **      GoodBye!      **      Goodbye!      **      Goodbye!      **
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
      choice /c:yn /n /t:n,4
      if errorlevel 2 goto fini
      if errorlevel 1 goto gogo



:fini
      cd\
      c:

---