Batch Files in Windows XP

These are batch files that I either started on my own or based on someone else's original script. NO.BAT, LISTPATH.BAT, and DE.BAT are examples of the latter. Some files carried over into XP as they were, while others needed changes-- or in the case of NO.BAT, XP itself needed a tweak.

If your browser displays a batch file's contents instead of bringing up a download dialog, right click the link and choose Save Target As or Save Link Target As... (or similar entry) from the context menu. Download and copy to a folder (directory) that is mentioned in the path statement. Except for SERV.BAT, you'll want to go to Start / Run... / type CMD / press ENTER or click OK to get to a command prompt from which to run the batch file. Do this by typing its name (with or without the .bat extension) along with any arguments that may be required.

SERV.BAT lists XP Services that have been started. Once downloaded and placed in a folder that's listed in the path statement, go to Start / Run... / type serv / press ENTER or click OK. LOOK.BAT opens a single pane explorer view of the current directory.

NO.BAT filters file extensions from a directory listing. Note that NO.BAT will not work if the DIR command displays file names on the right, which is the XP default. To change this, look here. Also, NO.BAT, for some reason, does not always work with certain kinds of filenames. E.g. I have a folder of MP3 tunes whose extensions get mashed in with the rest of the filename (periods . and tildes ~ removed) when viewed from a command window. Probably because of this, NO.BAT won't filter files with .mp3 extensions out of a listing for that folder-- unless I copy those files to another directory first.... then, the batch file works fine within the second directory. So far, I've only noticed this behavior with MP3s... but I don't know why it's happening, nor why other extensions aren't affected.
SIDE.BAT lists / navigates directories that are on the same level as the current directory.

SWAPNAME.BAT swaps one file's name for that of another file in the current directory. LISTPATH.BAT lists directories in the Windows path.

FND.BAT locates files by extension on the current drive.
DE.BAT deletes one or more files based on a name or extension (or a part of these) given by the user.

FR.BAT gives available disk space for a drive, along with the total number of folders on the drive.
TRE.BAT lists the main subfolders
in the current directory.

NEW.BAT lists files in the current directory by date, newest first.
LARGE.BAT lists files in the current directory by size, largest first.

MS.BAT uses the DOS editor, EDIT.COM, to view and edit WinXP's BOOT.INI file.
WHEN.BAT displays the current date and time. For more on this file, see this section.

FIRST.BAT lists files in the current directory by name, ascending order (A-Z), numeric names listed topmost.
X.BAT lets you exit a command window by typing the letter X and pressing ENTER, which is quicker than typing EXIT / ENTER.

For more on batch files, visit Gord's World of Batch Files and become a member of the free Batch World mailing list.
Still more info on batch files can be found here:
    - Using batch files (Microsoft)
    - Batch File Commands (Windows Support Center)
    - Information On Batch Files (Computer Hope)

For more on environment variables, see How To Manage Environment Variables in Windows XP (Microsoft).

For more about commands and the command prompt in Windows XP, see this section.

SERV.BAT lists XP Services that have been started. Once downloaded and placed in a folder that's listed in the path statement, go to Start / Run... / type serv / press ENTER or click OK.	LOOK.BAT opens a single pane explorer view of the current directory.
NO.BAT filters file extensions from a directory listing. Note that NO.BAT will not work if the DIR command displays file names on the right, which is the XP default. To change this, look here. Also, NO.BAT, for some reason, does not always work with certain kinds of filenames. E.g. I have a folder of MP3 tunes whose extensions get mashed in with the rest of the filename (periods . and tildes ~ removed) when viewed from a command window. Probably because of this, NO.BAT won't filter files with .mp3 extensions out of a listing for that folder-- unless I copy those files to another directory first.... then, the batch file works fine within the second directory. So far, I've only noticed this behavior with MP3s... but I don't know why it's happening, nor why other extensions aren't affected.	SIDE.BAT lists / navigates directories that are on the same level as the current directory.
SWAPNAME.BAT swaps one file's name for that of another file in the current directory.	LISTPATH.BAT lists directories in the Windows path.
FND.BAT locates files by extension on the current drive.	DE.BAT deletes one or more files based on a name or extension (or a part of these) given by the user.
FR.BAT gives available disk space for a drive, along with the total number of folders on the drive.	TRE.BAT lists the main subfolders in the current directory.
NEW.BAT lists files in the current directory by date, newest first.	LARGE.BAT lists files in the current directory by size, largest first.
MS.BAT uses the DOS editor, EDIT.COM, to view and edit WinXP's BOOT.INI file.	WHEN.BAT displays the current date and time. For more on this file, see this section.
FIRST.BAT lists files in the current directory by name, ascending order (A-Z), numeric names listed topmost.	X.BAT lets you exit a command window by typing the letter X and pressing ENTER, which is quicker than typing EXIT / ENTER.