help with a program launching batch fileClosed

Question

Hello,
 I have been working on a batch file that will run any shortcut i want.  i have a keyboard that has  some programable keys  i have one folder with all the shortcuts to my programs i am looking for a batch file that i can run and then run any shortcut in that folder. so far my best attepmt is very crude.

@Echo Game 1 Age of Empires III
@Echo Game 2 Dungeon Siege
@Echo Game 3 Dungeon Siege Legends of Aranna
@Echo Game 4 Etherlords II
...
set /p Game=Play? 

i have to edit my batch program every time i add or remove shortcuts. pokeing aroudn the net i came up with this bit of code that seems to help but i can not figure out how to use it after it maeks the variables

@echo off 
setLocal EnableDelayedExpansion 

for /f "tokens=* delims= " %%a in ('dir *.lnk /b') do ( 
set /a n+=1 
set v!n!=%%a 
) 
set v

the bigest problem now seems to be how to get it to list off in numeratical order and how to call the right shortcut. what i am really looking for is a menu  that i can then run the corisponding file and all i need ot do to add or subtract items is remove or add the shortcut to the folder the batch file is in. Thank you in advance for the help

serithwing · Accepted Answer

the problem is i have to edit the batch file each time i change the contentes of the folder.  i am looking for a way to make a batch file that can just be droped into any folder of links and work with out editing it. the batch file needs to do several tasks 1st it needs to make a menu with poplulated with all the links in the folder. 2nd it needs to be able to launch those programs after the user picks what one to run. i am haveing problems accessing the variables that this bit of code produces

@echo off 
setLocal EnableDelayedExpansion 

for /f "tokens=* delims= " %%a in ('dir *.lnk /b') do ( 
set /a n+=1 
set v!n!=%%a 
) 
set v 

i can access the values by %v1% but i am unable to figure out how to access the values  with an adtional variable.
i have tried %vc% as well as %v!c!% and many other combanations i figure i can set c to the program number that corasponds to the link i want run. The other problem i have with the above code is it does not list  in order it seems to list out v1 v10 v11 v12 v13 v14 v2 ....

Ashish Anand · Answer

I guess you should be able to map your programmable keys directly to games' exe. That should serve the purpose.

Hacker · Answer

yeah to do that right click on the game and do make a shortcut withc is way simpler than making a batch file. But if you want a batch file this is what you have to type for example

@echo off
echo Age of Empires 3 
echo starting
start C:\ProgramFiles\microsoftgames\ageofempires3\age3.exe
echo started

Deisuke-san · Answer

Putting %CD%\ before the path to your programs, and you could use a lot of IF NOT EXIST commands to try and create a makeshift menu..

i'd give an example, but i'm working on my own batch problem..

I've got a setup that needs to execute from a directory in a CD, but it can't be run from DOS, so i need a batch file to start a link to that setup, but the batch treats it as the Setup.exe, not the link, and tries to run it in DOS again..

CoBEn · Answer

This is the easiest way using a input choice


@echo off
:start
cls
@Echo Game 1 Age of Empires III 
@Echo Game 2 Dungeon Siege 
@Echo Game 3 Dungeon Siege Legends of Aranna 
@Echo Game 4 Etherlords II
set /p userinp=choose a number(1-6):
set userinp=%userinp:~0,1%
if "%userinp%"=="1" goto 1
if "%userinp%"=="2" goto 2
if "%userinp%"=="3" goto 3
if "%userinp%"=="4" goto 4
echo invalid choice
goto start
:1
(start Age of Empires III )
goto end
:2
(start Dungeon Siege )
goto end
:3
(start Dungeon Siege Legends of Aranna)
goto end
:4
(start Etherlords II)
goto end
:end

ynrob · Answer

This is what worked for me. It lists all the shortcut files in the folder. You choose an option and the game runs.
The .bat file must however be in the same folder as all of your shortcuts for it to work as it is. 

@echo off
:menu
cls
echo.
echo.	GAME SETUP AND SELECTION MENU 
echo.
echo.		 ( Q quits )
echo.
cd /d %~dp0
setLocal EnableDelayedExpansion
	for /f "tokens=* delims= " %%a in ('dir *.lnk *.*.lnk /b') do (
	set /a n+=1
	set game !n!=%%a
	)
	set game
echo.
	set /p Choice=	Please select a game:  
echo.
	IF /I '%Choice%'=='1' GOTO :1
	IF /I '%Choice%'=='2' GOTO :2
	IF /I '%Choice%'=='3' GOTO :3
	IF /I '%Choice%'=='4' GOTO :4
	IF /I '%Choice%'=='5' GOTO :5
	IF /I '%Choice%'=='q' GOTO :end
echo.
echo.	Computer says no
echo.
	pause
	goto :menu 
:1
	call %game 1%
	goto :menu
:2
	call %game 2%
	goto :end
:3
	call %game 3%
	goto :menu
:4
	call %game 4%
	goto :menu
:5
	call %game 5%
	goto :menu
:end

Help with a program launching batch file

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