How to do something to each file in a directory with a batch script

Question

How do you iterate over each file in a directory with a .bat or .cmd file?

For simplicity please provide an answer that just echo's the filename or file path.

Answer 1

Command line usage:

for /f %f in ('dir /b c:\') do echo %f

Batch file usage:

for /f %%f in ('dir /b c:\') do echo %%f

Update: if the directory contains files with space in the names, you need to change the delimiter the for /f command is using. for example, you can use the pipe char.

for /f "delims=|" %%f in ('dir /b c:\') do echo %%f

Update 2: (quick one year and a half after the original answer :-)) If the directory name itself has a space in the name, you can use the usebackq option on the for:

for /f "usebackq delims=|" %%f in (`dir /b "c:\program files"`) do echo %%f

And if you need to use output redirection or command piping, use the escape char (^):

for /f "usebackq delims=|" %%f in (`dir /b "c:\program files" ^| findstr /i microsoft`) do echo %%f

Answer 2

Use

for /r path %%var in (*.*) do some_command %%var

with:

• path being the starting path.
• %%var being some identifier.
• *.* being a filemask OR the contents of a variable.
• some_command being the command to execute with the path and var concatenated as parameters.