A good tutorial site for batch programming?

[Whitebeard1]

Hey, I have been playing with batch programming for a year now. I learnt bits and pieces online, but I'm looking for a more complete batch tutorial. Any suggestions on a good batch programming tutorial?
Thanks.

[Geek-9pm]

Why?
You have already spent time on it.
Do you have any other skills?
Maybe it is a form of  escape from reality?
A personal fantasy?
  Like "I leaned how to fly like a bird with a BATCH file!"

The real world needs people to solve solve real problems.
Here is a serious article in a serious web site,; Forbes.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/tarabrown/2012/01/10/learning-how-to-code-is-a-waste-of-time/
It is not really a joke. You can get a better job taking care of horses instead of   programming computers.

But to directly answer your question;  you have already found the best tutorial on the Internet. Computer Hope is the best place to learn  BATCH.
Now some might say the presentation here lacks structure. Well, anybody who NEEDS structure should not sturdy BATCH.

[Salmon Trout]

Computer Hope is the best place to learn  BATCH.

I am sorry but I don't agree. I would go to the site linked below for a complete language reference and examples, although candour compels me to remark that if you have been playing around with it for "a year" and you still need (and don't know where or how to find!!!) tutorials, maybe this isn't for you?

http://ss64.com/nt/

[Salmon Trout]

"I leaned how to fly like a bird with a BATCH file!"

I like this.

[BC_Programmer]

The real world needs people to solve solve real problems.
Here is a serious article in a serious web site,; Forbes.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/tarabrown/2012/01/10/learning-how-to-code-is-a-waste-of-time/
It is not really a joke. You can get a better job taking care of horses instead of   programming computers.

You've managed to as usual, somehow read a completely different article and come to a different conclusion.

Most of the people that signed up don’t really know why they are learning to code, they just think it’s a good idea.

Overall, though, I think This post covers that dumb codeacademy thing much better.

Should you learn to write code? No, I can't get behind that. You should be learning to write as little code as possible. Ideally none.

[Whitebeard1]

Thanks for the answers.

Why?
You have already spent time on it.
Do you have any other skills?
Maybe it is a form of  escape from reality?
A personal fantasy?
  Like "I leaned how to fly like a bird with a BATCH file!"

The real world needs people to solve solve real problems.
Here is a serious article in a serious web site,; Forbes.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/tarabrown/2012/01/10/learning-how-to-code-is-a-waste-of-time/
It is not really a joke. You can get a better job taking care of horses instead of   programming computers.

But to directly answer your question;  you have already found the best tutorial on the Internet. Computer Hope is the best place to learn  BATCH.
Now some might say the presentation here lacks structure. Well, anybody who NEEDS structure should not sturdy BATCH.

Well, my reason for learning how to code is to kill time. And I agree it king of a waste of time, but that's probably why I'm doing it. I find it quite fun making my own little programs. 

[Salmon Trout]

I find it quite fun making my own little programs.

Nothing is a waste of time if you enjoy it. Writing scripts is no more a waste of time than watchmaking or marquetry or stamp collecting or bird watching. If you are ready to do a bit of learning then good luck to you! Have a look at SS64 which I linked to above.

[camerongray]

The one thing I would say here that if you are planning on learning a language in full is that batch is pretty limited in its potential, it's fine for automating tasks that you would normally run on the command line but it's not really practical for much more than that.  If you are wanting to learn to write small, fun scripts like little text based games.etc you may want to consider learning a more powerful scripting language like Python or Perl which have a lot more potential than Batch.

The real world needs people to solve solve real problems.
Here is a serious article in a serious web site,; Forbes.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/tarabrown/2012/01/10/learning-how-to-code-is-a-waste-of-time/
It is not really a joke. You can get a better job taking care of horses instead of   programming computers.

That's the most ridiculous thing I've read in a long time.  People learn to write software for all different reasons, maybe they find it interesting, maybe they enjoy writing software and potentially releasing it down the line, maybe it's a career path they want to follow.

And the problems software developers solve aren't "real" problems?  I'd say they are, for example, software can be developed to automate many tasks in businesses saving loads of time and money.  I've even written small scripts doing day-to-day work to accomplish stuff that I could have done manually but would have taken a long time.

Get a better job taking care of horses?  Any evidence to back this up?  What exactly constitutes a "better" job?  I'd much prefer doing my job developing software where I get to sit in a nice, temperature controlled office doing something that I find interesting vs taking care of horses.

[Geek-9pm]

Well, if I never said anything there would have been less response.
As to the need for horse care, it is there. Some problems in horse card can be resolved using a computer. It is a areal industry with real ppeople using methods both  old and new.
Wikipedia article s can be useful, even if not perfect.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_care

Feeding
Forages, such as hay, are required by all horses
Main article: Equine nutrition

A horse or pony needs approximately 1.5% to 2.5% of its body weight in food per day, depending on its age and level of work. This may include forages such as grass or hay and concentrates such as grain or commercially prepared pelleted feeds. Like people, some horses are "easy keepers" and prone to obesity, while others are "hard keepers" and need a great deal of food just to maintain a slim build. The average riding horse weighs roughly 1,000 pounds (450 kg), but the weight of a horse can be more closely estimated using a weight tape, which can be purchased from a feed store or tack shop.

Best practice is to feed horses small quantities multiple times daily, unless they are on full-time pasture. Fresh, clean water should be provided free choice at all times, unless there is a specific reason to limit water intake for a short period of time.
a sweet feed mix with added vitamins

A horse that is not ridden daily or subjected to other stressors can maintain adequate nutrition on pasture or hay alone, with adequate water (10–12 gallons per day minimum) and free access to a salt block or loose salt. However, horses and ponies in regular work often need a ration of both forage and concentrates.

Horses that are fed improperly may develop colic or laminitis, particularly if fed spoiled feed, subjected to excessive feed, or an abrupt change of feed. Young horses who are improperly fed may develop growth disorders due to an imbalance of nutrients. Young horses may also develop osteochondrosis if they are overfed. Regularly monitoring the horse's body condition score on a regular basis assists in helping the horse maintain proper weight.

15 Careers with Horses

...
2. Equine Veterinary Technician

Equine veterinary technicians provide assistance to veterinarians as they complete exams and surgical procedures. Vet techs must complete a two year degree and pass an exam to become licensed in the field. Equine techs can expect to earn a salary in the $31,000 to $35,000 range; those with veterinary technician specialist certification (VTS) can earn higher levels of compensation.
...

For more, use key phrase 'Taking care of horses as a profession' on Google.
There is nothing wrong with hard work.
There is nothing wrong with pursuit of a hobby.
Just t wanted to say there is more to life beyond  writing scripts.   

[camerongray]

What on earth does anything here have to do with horse care?  Have you ever thought that maybe horse care doesn't interest a lot of people?

And why on earth are you now quoting an article about horse care in a thread about batch scripting?

[Geek-9pm]

camerongray,
Some newbies get the idea that leaning about DOS is the road to a professional job.  I made the remark that one would do better craving for horses than  writing batch scripts for a livelihood.

Many come here looking for some inside i into computer technology, hoping it may open doors of opportunity that could impact their life choices.

I am on a one-mane crusade too tell new students that batch programming is not the foundation for a professional career in anything. So I said something specific. Like Horse Care vs. Batch programming.
Horse care as a profession  Over a million hits on Google
BATCH programming as a profession.  Over 20 million hits.

The point is this. Horse care is out there.
Limited? yes.
Can you make BATCH programming a profession?
Of course, but you
- have to work
..like a horse.

EDIT: This is a recent review of professional jobs with computers.
http://computer-careers-review.toptenreviews.com/
Can't find BATCH in the list.

[patio]

I am on a one-mane crusade

The irony in this is just too much for me to take...

[foxidrive]

Horse Care vs. Batch programming.
Horse care as a profession  Over a million hits on Google
BATCH programming as a profession.  Over 20 million hits.

google search:

horse profession 13 million hits
batch profession 4 million hits

You need to realise how unquoted terms are used in google searches.
My terms above are not indicative of actual professions in those two disciplines either.

As far as batch scripting goes - why not let the people play with batch scripts if they want to.  They will have some fun
 - because batch is easy to edit and launch - and could pick up some tricks or experience.

[Geek-9pm]

foxidrive,
Thank you for the correction.

Alright. Here is a batch problem.
I have four horses that total 5000 pounds.
They eat 3 percent of their weight in one day.
How much feed should I buy for one week?
Can it bee done using a FOR loop?

[Salmon Trout]

Can it bee done using a FOR loop?

Not needed.

@echo off
set totalweight=5000
set /a dailyfood=3*(%totalweight%/100)
set /a weeklyfood=%dailyfood%*7
echo Weekly feed required: %weeklyfood% lbs

Weekly feed required: 1050 lbs

[Geek-9pm]

Thank you,
I was stinking o some kind of loop like:

Code: [Select]

For days in week do
  feed =feed + 5000 & 3%
end loop
echo feed
Of course, that is not batch code.
Not sure how it would be done using a FOR loop.
 

[Salmon Trout]

When you stated the question you required one answer:

How much feed should I buy for one week?

Anyhow, a day-by-day calculation could be done with or without a FOR loop:

Without:

@echo off
set totalfoodweight=0
set Horseweight=5000
set /a dailyfoodweight=3*(%Horseweight%/100)
set totalfoodweight=0

set day=1
:Loop
set /a totalfoodweight+=%dailyfoodweight%
echo Day %day% consumption: %dailyfoodweight% lbs total consumed: %totalfoodweight% lbs
set /a day+=1
if %day% LEQ 7 goto loop

Or with...

@echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
set Horseweight=5000
set /a dailyfoodweight=3*(%Horseweight%/100)
set totalfoodweight=0
for /L %%D in (1,1,7) do (
    set /a totalfoodweight+=%dailyfoodweight%
    echo Day %%D consumption: %dailyfoodweight% lbs total consumed: !totalfoodweight! lbs
    )

Either way this is the result:

Day 1 consumption: 150 lbs total consumed: 150 lbs
Day 2 consumption: 150 lbs total consumed: 300 lbs
Day 3 consumption: 150 lbs total consumed: 450 lbs
Day 4 consumption: 150 lbs total consumed: 600 lbs
Day 5 consumption: 150 lbs total consumed: 750 lbs
Day 6 consumption: 150 lbs total consumed: 900 lbs
Day 7 consumption: 150 lbs total consumed: 1050 lbs

[Salmon Trout]

Anyhow, this is a poor example; it just so happens that the (very simple) arithmetic involves small whole numbers only. Batch scripting was designed to do simple tasks mainly in system administration. It runs out of power and usability when you try to do anything remotely complex. Also, where I live, if you tried to order "1050 pounds" of horse feed the suppliers would say "how many kilos is that?". (If you went to Baileys you might get 53 twenty-kilo sacks)



Interesting:

Ideal for horses and ponies at rest or in light to moderate work.

Free from whole oats!

COMPOSITION
Oatfeed, Micronised Barley, Grassmeal, Alfalfa & Oat Straw Chaff, Micronised Wheat, Wheatfeed, Micronised Maize, Micronised Peas, Extracted Sunflower Meal, Soya Oil, Honey (1.5%), Molasses, Dicalcium Phosphate, Spearmint (0.1%), Calcium Carbonate, Vitamins and Minerals, Sodium Chloride, Calcined Magnesite

They describe this as "delicious" - do they know that from experience, or did they get it straight from the horse's mouth? If that's what they give you for lunch, I don't think I want to work at Baileys Horse Feeds. I'd try to be a team player, and have a "passion for the product", but that much would be beyond me.

[Salmon Trout]

Also, bearing in mind that a 1,000-pound horse will produce 35 to 50 pounds of wet manure (faeces plus urine) daily, one could modify the script to show how much dooky needs to be carted away, but I shall leave that as an exercise for the student. There is also the question of bedding.

[foxidrive]

A task for a script could be to calculate how much material would be required to sew a horse nappy, and also calculate the water and detergent used to launder several nappies per day.

[patio]

I am on a one-mane crusade

[foxidrive]

ROFL!

[Geek-9pm]

The Meaning of ROFL
What does ROFL mean? ROFL is an acronym, abbreviation or slang word that is explained above where the ROFL definition is give
ROFL means "Rolling On Floor Laughing"
 

So now you know - ROFL means "Rolling On Floor Laughing"
    

[Whitebeard1]

Hey, thanks for all these replies. Some very interesting posts there
But batch programming as a profession???
I'm not sure how they can earn a living.
I thought batch programming is very limited.
Thanks,
Whitebeard1

[Geek-9pm]

But batch programming as a profession???
I'm not sure how they can earn a living.
I thought batch programming is very limited.

Yeah, that's what I say too.
But here is an allegory that may help.
Just image hat IT  In dusty was the  Heath Care Industry.
Heath Care Industry.
  Toot problem? got the dentist.
  Eye problem? Go to the Ophthalmologist.
  Urine problem? Go to the urologist
  Depression? go tot he psycho analyst
  Nutrition problems? Go to the health food professional.
 
So, in the IT industry we would have:
Information Technology
  Malicious software? Go to the security analyst.
  Device drive issue? Got o the hardware technician
  CPU Overheat? Go to the system Engineer.
  Command script woes? See a Batch professional.

Does that help? 

[Salmon Trout]

But batch programming as a profession???
I'm not sure how they can earn a living.
I thought batch programming is very limited.

If you are a system admin, whipping up a batch script is certainly a handy skill to have, but it would not be the foundation of your career, by any means. Any more than just knowing how to use a screwdriver would make you a carpenter or engineer.

[Whitebeard1]

I see. Thanks for the replies. So batch programming is not the foundation of one's career? Are the 'batch professionals' just IT professionals who have extensive knowledge in batch?
Also, if I'm going to use a new type of programming language, because batch is very limited, which language would you suggest?
C++? Python?
Any help would be appreciated!

[foxidrive]

I kinda think that most people with good batch skills these days are enthusiasts first and foremost.

Batch is easy to launch - you just need a text editor - so many people dabble with it to begin with but
I'd guess that most of them would gravitate to another scripting language or a higher level language.

Modern IT admin people seem to learn and prefer Powershell - you see many of them say over and again that "batch is dead and why not try powershell".

[Geek-9pm]

Powers *censored* is already in Windows 7
In has to be installed in Windows XP

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_PowerShell

[patio]

I was stinking o some kind of loop like:

Powers *censored* is already in Windows 7

And the hits just keep on coming...

[Geek-9pm]

Patio, I used the spell checker I this is what happened.

Powers *censored* is already in Windows 7

[patio]

That sould have caused you to remember it's all one word....

[Geek-9pm]

I spelled it *censored* one word. The spell checker splatted it.

[Salmon Trout]

Don't tell me that CH censors the word '*censored*'? Is this 2014 or 1714?

[Salmon Trout]

I spelled it *censored* one word. The spell checker splatted it.

It just goes on...

[Geek-9pm]

Let me try something.

Code: [Select]

Microsoft Powershell    <=   two words
Microsoft Powers *censored*    <=  three words

How is that?
That means that if I want t o share a bit of code with anybody here, it has to pass the censor test.
Is there a list of Anglo-saxon words that can not be used? 

[Salmon Trout]

You can turn censorship on or off in your forum profile. I have mine turned OFF. It's in 'Look and Layout'. You have to check the box for 'Leave words uncensored'.

[BC_Programmer]

It is SMF's default censor list, I think. It can be shut off via your profile.

It's probably a good idea. I have heard too many stories of young children becoming serial rapists and murderers because they read swear words online. It's a gateway. One day you're an innocent five year old, next you start hearing curse words and repeating them and by the time you are 8 you're a drug dealer, and by the time you're 11 you've already got a triple-digit body count and have left a trail of destroyed families left wondering why. /s

[Salmon Trout]

I have heard too many stories of young children becoming serial rapists and murderers because they read swear words online.

When my father was doing carpentry, if he hit his thumb with the hammer, he would shout '*censored*!' at the top of his voice. This was before the internet or even colour TV.

[foxidrive]

In has to be installed in Windows XP

XP has around 40 days left before any exploits will not be patched.

It was a good OS but is 12 years old now and there are improvements in Win 7 and 8 which are beneficial, and they are both stable and good OS's, like XP was.

[patio]

I spelled it *censored* one word. The spell checker splatted it.

Based on this...and previous posts over the last year or so i'm convinced you do this as a form of self-amusement...

[Whitebeard1]

We are going a bit off topic here... 

[foxidrive]

Prof Timo Salmi has a collection of batch scripts and tips that you can read on his site, or download the ZIP files to look at, if you want to learn that way.
Search alt.msdos.batch.nt on google groups for his regular FAQ postings.

If you want to read and follow forums, then there are several.

Getting premade scripts and modifying them, then debugging the failures is a good way to pick up tips and techniques.
Asking questions on the forums will get you answers, if you supply factual details.

AFAIK there are no good tutorials for modern NT scripting and that's because so much of batch scripting is undocumented techniques, tips, and limitations, discovered by so many people.

[Geek-9pm]

....
AFAIK there are no good tutorials for modern NT scripting and that's because so much of batch scripting is undocumented techniques, tips, and limitations, discovered by so many people.

Exactly!