Author Topic: %~dp0 vs %cd% (Read 464278 times)

optix2000 · « **on:** April 01, 2008, 09:42:04 PM »

Hello,

Just wondering what's the difference in using %~dp0 or %cd% to find the current directory, since I'm not sure that either one will work in every case. Or do both work exactly the same?

Thanks.

Dias de verano · « **Reply #1 on:** April 02, 2008, 12:33:19 AM »

They are not equivalent.

%cd% is available either to a batch file or at the command prompt and expands to the drive letter and path of the current directory (which can change e.g. by using the CD command)

%~dp0 is only available within a batch file and expands to the drive letter and path in which that batch file is located (which cannot change). It is obtained from %0 which is the batch file's name.

An experiment like the following shows the difference

Here is D:\dirshow.bat:

Code: [Select]

@echo off
echo this is %%cd%%  %cd%
echo this is %%~dp0 %~dp0

Run it from C:\ and this is what you see

Code: [Select]

C:\>D:\dirshow.bat
this is %cd%  C:\
this is %~dp0 D:\

mplichta · « **Reply #2 on:** March 23, 2012, 09:59:01 AM »

There is one more important distinction to note. Normally the command prompt, and therefore cmd files, don't support UNC paths.

However, using %~DP0 you can use relative paths to install software without mapping a drive. The command below is what I use to install Adobe Design Premium and it works from any path, UNC, Flash drive, or mapped drive.

msiexec /i "%~dp0\DP 32bit Basic\Build\DP 32bit Basic.msi" /q

I use this by typing \\server\share\software\adobe CS5 into the start menu or run command (xp). From there I can just double click a cmd file containing the command above.

patio · « **Reply #3 on:** March 23, 2012, 10:00:55 AM »

It's been 4 years...

OnePostPony · « **Reply #4 on:** October 18, 2012, 06:51:08 AM »

Quote from: patio on March 23, 2012, 10:00:55 AM

It's been 4 years...

So what? I stumbled upon this thread today and found both replies useful.

foxidrive · « **Reply #5 on:** October 18, 2012, 08:04:36 AM »

Quote from: mplichta on March 23, 2012, 09:59:01 AM

There is one more important distinction to note. Normally the command prompt, and therefore cmd files, don't support UNC paths.

I don't think you are correct.

This should work just fine

Code: [Select]

xcopy "\\server\share1\*.txt" "\\server\share2\"
and this too:

Code: [Select]

pushd "\\server\share\software\adobe CS5"
msiexec "\DP 32bit Basic\Build\DP 32bit Basic.msi" /q
popd

TechnoGeek · « **Reply #6 on:** October 18, 2012, 08:14:39 AM »

More specifically, cmd.exe (including executed .bat files, .cmd files, etc.) does not support the current/working directory to be a UNC path. pushd gets around this by assigning and switching to a drive letter that is mapped to the target path, and most other programs (commandline or not) work perfectly fine with a UNC path.

patio · « **Reply #7 on:** October 18, 2012, 08:31:09 AM »

Quote from: patio on March 23, 2012, 10:00:55 AM

It's been 4 years...

foxidrive · « **Reply #8 on:** October 18, 2012, 09:23:30 AM »

Quote from: patio on March 23, 2012, 10:00:55 AM

It's been 4 years...

I wonder if this topic will be dredged up again in 2016.

patio · « **Reply #9 on:** October 18, 2012, 09:35:40 AM »

Judging by it's history...i'd say that's a safe bet...

Seeya then...

rsf722 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 21, 2015, 12:33:00 PM »

Not quite 2016 yet, but I found this very helpful.

Geek-9pm · « **Reply #11 on:** September 21, 2015, 12:57:14 PM »

Quote from: patio on March 23, 2012, 10:00:55 AM

It's been 4 years...

Batch is slow...

Squashman · « **Reply #12 on:** September 21, 2015, 01:08:37 PM »

Quote from: foxidrive on October 18, 2012, 09:23:30 AM

I wonder if this topic will be dredged up again in 2016.

Close enough.

Fighthouse · « **Reply #13 on:** January 04, 2016, 07:44:41 AM »

This thread helped me out with a batch script at the end of last year. Thank you so much!

patio · « **Reply #14 on:** January 04, 2016, 08:00:02 AM »

Quote from: foxidrive on October 18, 2012, 09:23:30 AM

I wonder if this topic will be dredged up again in 2016.

Sonofagun....you were correct....

DaveLembke · « **Reply #15 on:** January 04, 2016, 08:11:08 AM »

LOL Like the Matrix Oracle ...would you like a cookie

foxidrive · « **Reply #16 on:** January 05, 2016, 03:01:11 AM »

It's had a good run - but I might be 6 foot under in 2020

Nathansswell · « **Reply #17 on:** February 25, 2017, 02:37:19 PM »

I'm just here for 2017, don't mind me.

Ciyar · « **Reply #18 on:** March 15, 2018, 03:37:10 AM »

Quote from: foxidrive on October 18, 2012, 09:23:30 AM

I wonder if this topic will be dredged up again in 2016.

Even after 4 years......

patio · « **Reply #19 on:** March 17, 2018, 11:18:04 AM »

*** sigh ***

Squashman · « **Reply #20 on:** March 17, 2018, 10:03:07 PM »

Quote from: foxidrive on January 05, 2016, 03:01:11 AM

It's had a good run - but I might be 6 foot under in 2020

RIP my friend.

Salmon Trout · « **Reply #21 on:** March 18, 2018, 04:25:23 AM »

As the former Dias de Verano, can I say (a little early) happy 10th anniversary to this thread!

patio · « **Reply #22 on:** March 18, 2018, 07:16:13 AM »

Tell good 'ol Diaz i said Hi......

Salmon Trout · « **Reply #23 on:** March 18, 2018, 07:19:25 AM »

He says hola, mi amigo!

patio · « **Reply #24 on:** March 18, 2018, 09:07:43 AM »

Geek-9pm · « **Reply #25 on:** March 18, 2018, 02:16:42 PM »

Quote from: Squashman on March 17, 2018, 10:03:07 PM

RIP my friend.

When did he pass away?

BC_Programmer · « **Reply #26 on:** March 18, 2018, 02:24:30 PM »

Thursday Nov 3rd 2016.

Don's Topic

Dostips Topic

Salmon Trout · « **Reply #27 on:** March 18, 2018, 02:55:05 PM »

Quote from: Geek-9pm on March 18, 2018, 02:16:42 PM

When did he pass away?

Shortly before you said how sad it was.

Geek-9pm · « **Reply #28 on:** March 18, 2018, 08:51:50 PM »

Foxidrive

Quote

passed away on Thursday 3rd November 2016

My memory is fading.

Could somebody put a note in his profile?

Sefie · « **Reply #29 on:** November 06, 2019, 01:34:44 AM »

Quote from: foxidrive on January 05, 2016, 03:01:11 AM

It's had a good run - but I might be 6 foot under in 2020

Not quite 2020, yet, but I registered in late 2019 just to say that this thread was useful to me.

djshoxxx · « **Reply #30 on:** December 18, 2019, 01:40:12 AM »

I was trying to understand what @pushd "%~dp0" ment, I googled it, and now I understand it because of this thread. Only 14 days from 2020 lol!

thank you, contributors to this post, and a posthumous thank you and RIP to foxidrive

patio · « **Reply #31 on:** December 18, 2019, 05:56:01 AM »

RIP...

croger1998 · « **Reply #32 on:** December 19, 2019, 08:11:48 AM »

I have been around PCs all my life. I have been in IT for 20+ years and have never came across %~dp0 before. No idea why. I am glad I came across this post to better understand this hidden gem.

Thanks for the info everyone.

martosio · « **Reply #33 on:** December 31, 2019, 07:27:02 PM »

This thread helped me about two years ago (august 2018 @ WTD), but due to thread policy I head to wait until 2020 to reply

Thanks guys!!

Caldor · « **Reply #34 on:** August 05, 2020, 07:54:58 AM »

Quote from: patio on March 23, 2012, 10:00:55 AM

It's been 4 years...

It's been... another 4 years...

I using a MiSTer FPGA to run a DOS core, and looking into batch scripting, but just cannot figure out how to get the path to the currently active directory.

I cannot get %~dp0 to work either... but trying to experiment some more. I am trying with FreeDOS, DOS 6.22 and DOS 7.1. But I guess I have to make sure I did try all of them.

BC_Programmer · « **Reply #35 on:** August 05, 2020, 01:51:29 PM »

%~dp0 and things like %cd% are part of the NT Extensions that were added to the command prompt with Windows NT4.

the "cd" command by itself outputs the current directory, but I don't know a way you can get that into an environment variable without utilizing things like QBASIC.

patio · « **Reply #36 on:** September 10, 2020, 05:17:16 PM »

Somehow i knew in the back of my mind it would be Dias ressurecting this one...

Who is that masked man ? ?

Sam_Weller · « **Reply #37 on:** September 30, 2020, 11:51:58 AM »

Quote from: rajubhaiya on September 17, 2020, 04:21:44 AM

guys help me out?

You are not the "former Dias de Verano".

Allan · « **Reply #38 on:** September 30, 2020, 05:34:06 PM »

Hey Mike, hope all is well. Good to see you back.

Nathansswell · « **Reply #39 on:** November 14, 2021, 02:50:16 PM »

We can forget about 2020 right

Sam_Weller · « **Reply #40 on:** November 27, 2021, 02:40:05 AM »

Quote from: Caldor on August 05, 2020, 07:54:58 AM

It's been... another 4 years...

I using a MiSTer FPGA to run a DOS core, and looking into batch scripting, but just cannot figure out how to get the path to the currently active directory.

I cannot get %~dp0 to work either... but trying to experiment some more. I am trying with FreeDOS, DOS 6.22 and DOS 7.1. But I guess I have to make sure I did try all of them.

Resurrection time!

Works with MS-DOS 7 and I have no reason to think it won't work with (say) 6.22

Code: [Select]

@echo off
>temp1.bat echo @PROMPT SET _CD=$P
>temp2.bat command /c temp1.bat
call temp2.bat
del temp1.bat
del temp2.bat
echo currentDir=%_CD%

Computer Hope Forum

News:

Author Topic: %~dp0 vs %cd% (Read 464278 times)

optix2000

Dias de verano

mplichta

patio

OnePostPony

foxidrive

TechnoGeek

patio

foxidrive

patio

rsf722

Geek-9pm

Squashman

Fighthouse

patio

DaveLembke

foxidrive

Nathansswell

Ciyar

patio

Squashman

Salmon Trout

patio

Salmon Trout

patio

Geek-9pm

BC_Programmer

Salmon Trout

Geek-9pm

Sefie

djshoxxx

patio

croger1998

martosio

Caldor

BC_Programmer

patio

Sam_Weller

Allan

Nathansswell

Sam_Weller