Batch Runner
Run multiple programs in a batch..
Designed for testing, useful for all-sorts!
Welcome to Batch Runner, a simple program that enables you to run lots of other programs, in one big batch.While originally designed for running test suites on in-development applications, Batch Runner has proven useful for all sorts of jobs where you need to run two or more programs one after another, or the same program over and over with different parameters or switches.
How does Batch Runner work?
Batch Runner's operation is very simple. The main GUI/window is a list of commands in the current batch, and a few controls for you to switch between different batches, run the batch, and so on.Batch jobs are stored in Batch Runner's ini (configuration) file, and can be created, edited and deleted there, or from within the main GUI. You simply select a batch, and which commands you would like to run (all, by default), and then click Run batch!.
You can configure and store any number of different batch jobs, with any number (well, thousands) of commands within each batch. Commands (program paths, with any optional switches and parameters) run consecutively; when the first completes, Batch Runner starts the next, and so on, until all the selected commands have completed.
A log of each batch is created at the end of the job, recording the name of the batch processed, status of each command; success, fail, exit code, error code, time taken, etc.
Click the New command button to add a new command to the current batch. The add new command.. dialog appears for you to enter whatever commands and parameters you need, as many as you need.
You can drag and drop applications, folders, and files onto this dialog to have their paths pasted automatically into the input - building complex commands with switches and optional parameters is quite painless. You can even drag in multiple items (Batch Runner will put spaces between the items, so you don't have to).
The command list has a context menu; you can right-click it and do stuff, edit selected commands, delete commands, and so on. Between all these controls, you should be able to do pretty much everything you need.
Apart from delete batches, that is. To do that, hold down the SHIFT key when Batch Runner is active, and the New batch button will switch to a Delete batch button, which will do exactly that. Careful now.
Note: the edit dialog behaves exactly like the add new command.. dialog; you can drag and drop stuff onto it, etc. It also shares the same dimensions and position, so wherever you put one, the other will also be, the next time you use it.
All the dialogs remember their size and positions (except minor prompts), and along with a few other preferences, this information is stored in Batch Runner.ini, which lives next to Batch Runner itself. In there, you can also change some of Batch Runner's behaviours..
User Preferences
All Batch Runner's preferences are stored in a standard, plain-text Windows ini file, named Batch Runner.ini. Simply drop it into any decent text editor and edit away. If you mess up, you can delete/rename the file, and Batch Runner will drop a new one into place, automatically. These are the preferences which you may usefully alter..log_path=Batch Runner.logName of the log file. Leave this blank to disable logging.
Note: You can use a full path here, if you don't want to log into the program's folder.
You can also use @tokens in the log_path preference. These will automagically convert to real values when the log is written. Available tokens..
Note: If you use dynamic tokens in your log, you can do all sorts of interesting things, create batch-specific logs, auto-rotating logs, and more. It also means you will create more logs. For most people, simply using a single file name is the best approach; Batch Runner will append all new logs to that one file.@DesktopYour Desktop.
@UserDirBatch Runner folder in your User Application Data folder (aka. "AppData").
@batchThe name of the current running batch.
@sec, @min, @hour, @mday, @mon, @year, @wday, @yday, @now, @date
Various time and date tokens, in order, current; seconds, minutes, hour, day of month, month, year, day of week (1-7, Sun to Sat), day of year (1-366, 355 if a leap year). All values are numeric.
There are also a couple of special short-format tokens; @now, which translates to the full date and time in the format "year-month-day @ hour.min", e.g. 2007-09-21 @ 22.09, and @date which is simply "year-month-day", e.g. 2007-09-21. They can be combined in any way you choose.
select_all=trueWhen you select a new batch, all the commands are automatically selected, ready to run.
show_tips=trueHelpful pop-up ToolTips for all the controls.
notify=trueBatch Runner will pop up a notification when complete. Or not.
warn_delete_batch=trueWarn about deleting batches.
warn_delete_command=trueWarn about deleting commands.
min_width=430Minimum width of the main gui - it will snap back to this.
430 pixels is the recommended minimum width.
min_height=96Minimum height of the main gui - it will snap back to this.
96 pixels is the recommended minimum height.
The section [name] is the name of the batch, and each preference is one single command in the form, name=command. For example..
[compaction example]
compress reports=compact.exe /C /S I:\work\documents\reports\*.log
uncompress reports=compact.exe /U /S I:\work\documents\reports\*.log
Portable operation
Batch Runner will happily operate in a completely portable state. Basically, if there's an ini file next to Batch Runner, it will use it, and if there's not, it will use the one in your Application Data folder (in your user folder). In other words, if you want portable operation; simply place a Batch Runner.ini file next to Batch Runner.exe.You can run multiple instances of Batch Runner, too, even all at once, with completely different settings for each instance. No problem.
Command-line operation
When launched, Batch runner usually loads the last-used batch and presents a graphic interface for you to work with your batches, but you can override this behaviour on the command-line.Batch Runner accepts two (optional) command-line parameter; 1) the special switch: run, which instructs Batch Runner to run the batch immediately without the GUI - you can script and schedule Batch Runner, even run it from inside Batch Runner - think about it; and 2) the name of the batch e.g. to immediately run a batch called "test batch", use..
Batch Runner.exe run test batch
NOTE: Spaces in batch names are not a problem.
To immediately run the current (last-used) batch job (stored as current_batch inside Batch Runner.ini), use..
Batch Runner.exe run
To startup with a different batch (in this example, a batch called "some batch") loaded and ready-to-use, do..
Batch Runner.exe some batch
NOTE..
- Setting a batch on the command-line won't affect your current_batch setting, which is only set when you manually select a batch from the batches drop-down.
- If you name one of your batches "run something", don't expect it to be able to load from the command-line!
For example..
As well as creating ad-hoc "test suites", there are a number of real-world uses for Batch Runner. For example, because many applications, especially newly-installed applications, have a bad habit of stealing important file associations, I keep windows registry (.reg) files with all my own custom file associations, along with myriad context commands, custom icons, and so on. Every so often I need to merge all four of these (one each for text types, image types, multimedia, and miscelleneous types), and then once complete, run Loki's ever-useful icon rebuilder (also available inside the checksum distro).After lots of practice, and by keeping shortcuts to these reg files in my favourites menu, I can do the whole lot in under five seconds. But with a single Batch Runner shortcut with this command-line (aka. "Target")..
"C:\Program Files\corz\Batch Runner\Batch Runner.exe" run reset file types
I can do it all with one click, thereby saving ten clicks off my daily RSI allowance. Inside my Batch Runner.ini, is a batch very like this..
[reset file types]
image types=C:\WINDOWS\regedit.exe /s "I:\work\custos\reg\context\image types.reg"
miscy types=C:\WINDOWS\regedit.exe /s "I:\work\custos\reg\context\miscy.reg"
multimedia types=C:\WINDOWS\regedit.exe /s "I:\work\custos\reg\context\multimedia.reg"
text types=C:\WINDOWS\regedit.exe /s "I:\work\custos\reg\context\text types.reg"
rebuild icons=C:\Program Files\ui tools\RebuildIcons.exe
.bat files
As well as regular programs, you can also add.bat (aka "Windows Batch Files", or "shell scripts") files. These days, most people have their .bat files' default action set to "Edit", preventing the inadvertant execution of malicious scripts. However, this can make it difficult when you actually want to run a .bat file, unattended.Using Batch Runner, you simply insert the path to the .bat file, and run the batch like any other; making it a doddle to script and schedule .bat files, even long lists of them, without the need for unsafe default file actions.
Scheduling Batch Runs..
It's easy to setup a schedule for a particular batch; Control Panel >> Scheduled Tasks >> Add New Task, browse for Batch Runner, continue to the advanced properties, add your batch, and so on. I find the whole experience painfully unproductive, and prefer to use the command-line. The above example, as a scheduled task, could be setup like so (in a command console/shell/Run Command/etc.)..schtasks /create /sc daily /tn "daily file types reset" /st 07:00:00 /tr "\"C:\Program Files\corz\Batch Runner\Batch Runner.exe\" run reset file types" /ru USERNAME /rp MyPa5sWw04d
Note: although extremely likely to be split into two lines or more in your web browser, the entire command must be entered into your console as one single line, replacing "USERNAME" and "MyPa5sWw04d" with your own details, of course. Easier; drop the whole command into a text file, give the sile a .cmd extension, and then you can edit and run it whenever you want to set a scheduled task the easy way.
Itstory..
Embedded fresh from..http://corz.org/engine?section=beta/windows/batch runner&source=version.nfo
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Batch Runner
Run multiple programs in a batch..
http://corz.org/windows/software/batch-runner/
(c) corz.org
itstory.. aka 'version history'.. aka 'changes'..
[known bugs at the bottom]
Key..
* Fixes
~ Changes
+ New stuff
Last updated: SUNDAY Jun 22, 2008
0.6.5
+ Batch Runner will now check for potential looping conditions. While
this is unlikely, it is possible to run, for example, a command that
runs Batch Runner with the command that runs Batch Runner with a
command that runs Batch Runner, and so on, and do nothing except spawn
zillions of instances of Batch Runner. Eventually, this could bring
the system down.
Now you can set a limit in your preferences, up to a maximum of ten
instances.
0.6.3
+ Added a "View the Log" option to the system tray menu, which activates
once a log has been created, and will always load the most recent log
into your preferred editor.
+ Batch Runner will now create (up to 9) sequential backups of deleted
batches inside the ini file (if you create and delete another batch
with the same name).
0.6.2
* Fixed a bug where deleting all the batches would incorrectly set the
current batch to a deleted batch. Also, Batch Runner could be fooled
into loading its own preferences as a batch, if you set them as the
"current_batch". It should now be impossible to fool Batch Runner into
loading such a batch, non-existent batches, etc.
~ Attempting to add a new command when there are no batches will now
first bring up the "New Batch" dialog, so you have something to add
the command to.
0.6.1
+ Batch Runner now uses a different tray menu while running commands.
+ The tray icon now flashes during batch runs, to let you know it's
active (in both gui and background mode).
+ Added Pause, Resume and Abort menu items to the System tray menu that
appears during batch runs - kinda essential, really. During pause, the
tray menu icon stops flashing.
+ You can now drag and drop programs directly onto Batch Runner's main
command list.
+ Added "Delete" HotKey to delete the selected commands from the list.
+ Batch Runner now checks for out-of-desktop dimensions, and fixes them
automatically.
+ Added an "Edit Preferences" option to the tray menu - you can set your
preferred editor in the prefs, too.
~ Started a habit of making all message boxes run as children of the main
GUI so there's only one taskbar entry during warnings and such. It's
something I've not really considered before - I usually click such
things immediately away. This is tidier.
+ Cleaned up some of the dialogs and what-not, correct icons, modality,
window titles, and so on.
+ Added "beep" option to have an audio alert when the batch is complete.
This might be useful when running batches transparently, with no GUI.
Options..
false no audio
true use default PC speaker beep at 1000Hz
<number> beep PC speaker using this frequency (in Hz)
<file path> play this WAV file
+ Added more exit codes - handy if running Batch Runner from inside
Batch Runner, scripting it, or whatever..
0 Normal termination
-9 User hard quit from tray.
-1 One or more of the batch's commands failed
(exited with an error state)
5 Chosen batch is missing or invalid (in background mode)
171 Missing ini file (and couldn't create one)
0.5 [first public release]
+ Added <enter> hotkey to the add & edit inputs - more intuitive. I'm using
AutoIt's new accelerators for this, so I don't have to use the DEFBUTTON
style, which makes buttons look ugly, imho.
+ Incorporated a few more of my usual app "features"; namely, auto ini
updating (leaves existing batches and settings intact), optional
portable operation, ini @tokens, etc., as well as lots of associated
functionality, auto-log folder creation, and so on. I also created a
new token; @batch, which translates to the name of the batch being
run, as well as a couple of new date & time tokens, @date and @now.
+ Added context menu to the combo drop-down, with "reload" option - only
really useful if you have only one batch, and add a batch to the ini
manually, and want it to show in the menu.
+ Added a "Reload list" option to the list's context menu.
+ Expanded command-line options to include the "run" keyword, which
invokes Batch Runner to immediately execute the current batch and
exit. You can also specify a batch on the command-line (spaces in
batch names are okay). e.g. to run "foo bar batch" immediately, do..
C:\Path\to\Batch Runner.exe run foo bar batch
+ When you specify the "run" switch, Batch Runner launches as a background
process, runs the specified batch, and then exits. No GUI is created.
It perhaps doesn't go without saying that as well as scripting and
scheduling Batch Runner, this means that you can run instances of
Batch Runner from *inside* Batch Runner, as Batch Runner commands.
Think about it. ;o)
+ Batch Runner will now return a valid exit code on exit. If all was well,
the exit code is 0. -1 means one or more of the commands had an exit
error. The individual application errors will be in the log, if created.
* Fixed a bug where the normal tray would appear in background mode; there
is now a separate tray menu for this, with one item - Exit, which will
quit Batch Runner after the current command completes.
+ The current running command is now displayed in the System Tray ToolTip.
0.4
+ Added delete warning messages, and ini options (you can switch them off).
+ Added help ToolTips, and an option to disable them, if required.
+ Batch Runner will now select all the commands in a newly selected batch,
so it is ready to run. This behaviour can also be disabled in the prefs.
+ Added drag+drop to the add/edit dialogs, as well as cool height snapping.
+ Added Tray toggle and tray menu (about, exit & run batch)
+ The gui controls will now grey out during batch runs, to avoid potential
confusion and mishaps. Also the tray icon becomes unclickable.
+ Added backup for deleted section (they are renamed "deleted-section")
and will no longer display in the drop-down (though remain in the ini,
just in case). If you want to completely delete a batch, you must do
this in the ini.
* Editing commands no longer loses the command's selection in the list.
0.3
+ Added more buttons, New Command, New batch, and an edit command for the
list's concept menu, as well as the dialogs to handle these.
+ A few minor improvements to the gui, spacing, control resizing and such.
The gui now has a minimum size it will snap to if you make it too small.
* I fixed the window size drift. That always annoys.
+ Batch Runner can load-up a new default batch on the command-line, e.g..
C:\Path\to\Batch Runner.exe My Batch
0.2
+ Added list concept menu - now you can delete and select commands from
the menu. Added preferences for height, position, etc., which are saved
to the ini file.
+ Lists are a pain. I'm gonna be using the UDFs for this one!
0.1
Basic batch running - a list, a drop-down, and a "Run batch!" button.
All editing is via the ini file. Batch Runner also does basic logging.
2do..
* Add shirtware code! (So grab it NOW for a nag-free version!!!)
Batch Runner info complete!
That's about it for Batch Runner. Hopefully it should be intuitive to operate, and you won't have any problems running batches of programs without any more help from me; but if you do have any questions, or issues, or find a bug; feel free to leave a comment below.The current release version is 0.6.5, here's the download link..
Batch Runner.zip hashes:
MD5: 5dabe2346890398df8795ca123763c62
SHA1: 55faa4f0da67da53ecd869ac878b98d638ad7d4a
nice
Just what I was looking for! Worked great. Thanks!
Would be swell to have many apps start from a single icon, depending on what I intend to do. This could be very handy indeed!!!
Sure, simply create a batch, and then make a shortcut somewhere using the command line (aka, "target")..
C:\path\to\BatchRunner.exe Batch-Name
Voila! Single-clickness!
But remember, the second item won't run until the first completes, and so on. If you want lots of programs to start all-together, make a simple batch (.bat) file, like so..
@echo off
start "Firefox" "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"
start "Notepad" "C:\Windows\Notepad.exe"
start "SomeOtherApp" "C:\Program Files\Other stuff\other.exe"
And create a shortcut to it.
;o)
(or
Nice software!
Is it possible to create a new batch in command-line?
I wanna create a new batch, run it, and delete it right after.. all using command-line.. can I ?
Thanks a lot
The whole point of Batch Runner is that you can manage and execute batches of commands without using the command line. If you are in a command prompt anyway, why not simply enter the commands!?!
Using the command-line to create a batch inside Batch Runner.ini, run Batch Runner with that batch, and then delete it again, is doable, but seems crazy. Sure, you could have some fun with setini and getini (two small, but beautiful programs from an eon ago), to manipulate Batch Runner's ini file from the command-line, but again, why bother?
Or did you mean run the commands from inside a .bat file? Again, simply list the commands you want to run, and they will run, one at a time. If you are going to delete the command list afterwards, there's not much point in using Batch Runner at all.
Or did you mean something else? If you tell me exactly what you are trying to achieve, I might have you a better solution for you.
;o)
(or
This is very useful.Good work buddy !
But I have created a batch called 'RManRest'.to schedule the same , I created a dos batchfile 'StartRman' which should start the 'RmanRest' batch runner.Is the following syntax inside 'StartRman' correct ?
"Batch runner.exe RManRest"
Thanks for the help
Arshad.
Chosen One, the correct syntax would be..
C:\path\to\Batch Runner.exe run RManRest
However, if you are scheduling a batch run, you don't need a .bat file to do it, put the Batch Runner command directly into your scheduler..
Control Panel >> Scheduled Tasks
;o)
(or
I would like to run an anti-spyware program followed by an anti-virus program from a single entry or keystroke.
How do I do this?
Hi there!
Nice tool and I would like to use it but I am missing something:
I would like to see setting for "Start in" folder for every command.
I am running programs which are sensitive for where they are started from.
Is this a big deal to have?
T.
Hello,
I added 3 commands into one batch.
When i run the batch it only executes the first command. It never executes the second of third command.
Batch Runner keeps running but basically does nothing.
bvb
Is it possible to run the same program more than once using this?
I need to be able to stop one program before i start another. can i do that? how?
I can see the commands in the GUI, but where do I find the .ini file to edit. Or have I got this completely wrong.