how to run multiple batch files in serial, in windows command line environment

Question

I have a batch file,

bat1.bat
bat2.bat

but it stops at the end of bat1

any clues?

Answer 1

Use call:

call bat1.cmd
call bat2.cmd

By default, when you just run a batch file from another one controll will not pass back to the calling one. That's why you need to use call.

Basically, if you have a batch like this:

@echo off
echo Foo
batch2.cmd
echo Bar

then it will only output

Foo

If you write it like

@echo off
echo Foo
call batch2.cmd
echo Bar

however, it will output

Foo
Bar

because after batch2 terminates, program control is passed back to your original batch file.

Answer 2

This can happen if bat1.bat stops abnormally (other than just running to the end, like calling exit) and you can work around this by using a fresh cmd.exe to run each bat file:

start /b /wait bat1.bat
start /b /wait bat2.bat

You could omit it for the last one if there won't follow commands in you bat file.