Run batch files sequentially

user1634603 picture user1634603 · Aug 30, 2012 · Viewed 74.3k times · Source

I want to ask you all how to run batch files sequentially in Windows. I have tried :

start /w batchfile_1.bat 
start /w batchfile_2.bat
..
start /w batchfile_n.bat

but I have to close the previous .bat file process manually (e.g. by clicking) before continuing into the next one. Is there any solution to do this automatically without me doing the manual closing previous .bat program every time?

Thanks a lot.

Answer

Ishikawa picture Ishikawa · Aug 30, 2012

I would check the solutions to this question: Run Multiple batch files

  • Taken from the answer in the link.

Use call:

call bat1.cmd
call bat2.cmd

By default, when you just run a batch file from another one control will not pass back to the calling one. That's why you need to use call.

Basically, if you have a batch like this:

@echo off
echo Foo
batch2.cmd
echo Bar

then it will only output

Foo

If you write it like

@echo off
echo Foo
call batch2.cmd
echo Bar

however, it will output

Foo
Bar

because after batch2 terminates, program control is passed back to your original batch file.