!#7# Automate processes with batch files - ideas that modern computers to apply too!

!±8± Automate processes with batch files - ideas that modern computers to apply too!

If you are familiar with MS-DOS at all, you will find that there is a command line based operating system which performs tasks issued to C, is:> prompt. The only way to one of the first MS-DOS computer, perform a bit ', has been critical to this request in a command, and as you can imagine, was quite awkward to use a computer. But that's large mainframe computers in operation, and was carried out on PC soon.

For example, Microsoft has just started image editing programYou will have to change the name of the program was to enter the directory (a folder called a "list" back then), where you have installed the program and then the name of the program. ":> Program Files / C edit.com" So, if Microsoft could change in a folder called "programs" the program could be started typing. Then and only then could download the program to use.

This example is only a brief order, but just imagine if you have a program that has been deeply in a series of nested folders had.They would enter a command as wide as the personal computer monitor, or even worse, for so long that the entire command would begin to embrace the next line! Now set to type these long commands every time you run a program. How awful!

This is just one of the reasons why batch programs has become so popular. Batch files are small text files with a *. bat, consisting of a series of commands like, each on its own line. When run, it wouldProcess every instruction without requiring the user to give each of them. You can batch file to a month's worth of versions of the weekly (full) and newspapers (partial) backups to keep or to make backup copies offsite.

When Windows was developed, was the need for the inclusion of instructions virtually eliminated with the introduction of point-and-click (mouse) interface. This was suppressed, but not the enthusiasm among PC-DOS batch file starts - and in some small circles, batch programsare still as popular today as it was 25 years ago.

Even if you use Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7, the batch file can save you a lot of effort from auto-starting programs and different tasks with a single click of a button. You do not need extensive programming experience, and should not be encrypted with a complicated, expensive compilers. Batch files are simple text files, and you could make one for personal use with WindowsNotepad.

You can create a batch file that launches the most used sites at once, for example, or you can create a batch program that fills the screen with your most important applications for the day to write. This requires a little 'knowledge of where these applications reside.

Suppose we want to load every day browser for Yahoo, Microsoft Word and then upload to start the computer, which is included with Windows. Instead of doing everything by hand, one canBuilding a batch file to do it automatically.

First, we want to load Notepad and type the following:

START "http://www.yahoo.com"

START "c: / Program Files / Microsoft Office / Office / winword.exe"

START "c: / windows / calc.exe"

Then, it would save these lines in a file name to facilitate "mytasks.bat" desktop access. Every time you double-click the file, restart the Web site of Yahoo, you start Microsoft Word, and the simple calculator would pophigh

As we start these programs each day as we can make a shortcut to this batch program and then move the shortcut in the Startup folder, our personal computers. In this way, these three programs, which will start every time on the PC. If you want to load minimizes these programs, you can enter the following are performed in a batch program:

START "http://www.yahoo.com" / m

START "c: / Program Files / Microsoft Office / Office / winword.exe" / m

START "c: / windows / calc.exe"/ M

That all three programs, as before, but the "/ m" parameter, would be minimized so as not to fill your desktop.

Many people have discovered the use of means much more innovative and effective programs of the batch, but the main thing is that you know they are a resource that you can use to save a few seconds or minutes to perform important work. You can also backup offsite, automated backup using batchFiles ..

We have progressed a long way from MS-DOS, but batch files are still a valuable tool for the automation that everyone can use without programming skills at all heavy.

Sincerely,

Robert Hosken

"Dr. Bob CompuNerd"