How to verify if a file exists in a batch file?

Question

I have to create a .BAT file that does this:

1. If C:\myprogram\sync\data.handler exists, exit;
2. If C:\myprogram\html\data.sql does not exist, exit;
3. In C:\myprogram\sync\ delete all files and folders except (test, test3 and test2)
4. Copy C:\myprogram\html\data.sql to C:\myprogram\sync\
5. Call other batch file with option sync.bat myprogram.ini.

If it was in the Bash environment it was easy for me, but I do not know how to test if a file or folder exists and if it is a file or folder.

Answer 1

You can use IF EXIST to check for a file:

IF EXIST "filename" (
  REM Do one thing
) ELSE (
  REM Do another thing
)

If you do not need an "else", you can do something like this:

set __myVariable=
IF EXIST "C:\folder with space\myfile.txt" set __myVariable=C:\folder with space\myfile.txt
IF EXIST "C:\some other folder with space\myfile.txt" set __myVariable=C:\some other folder with space\myfile.txt
set __myVariable=

Here's a working example of searching for a file or a folder:

REM setup

echo "some text" > filename
mkdir "foldername"

REM finds file   

REM "The ELSE clause must occur on the same line
as the command after the IF"

IF EXIST "filename" (
  ECHO file filename exists
) ELSE (
  ECHO file filename does not exist
)

REM does not find file

IF EXIST "filename2.txt" (
  ECHO file filename2.txt exists
) ELSE (
  ECHO file filename2.txt does not exist
)

REM folders must have a trailing backslash    
  
REM finds folder

IF EXIST "foldername\" (
  ECHO folder foldername exists
) ELSE (
  ECHO folder foldername does not exist
)

REM does not find folder

IF EXIST "filename\" (
  ECHO folder filename exists
) ELSE (
  ECHO folder filename does not exist
)

Answer 2

Here is a good example on how to do a command if a file does or does not exist:

if exist C:\myprogram\sync\data.handler echo Now Exiting && Exit
if not exist C:\myprogram\html\data.sql Exit

We will take those three files and put it in a temporary place. After deleting the folder, it will restore those three files.

xcopy "test" "C:\temp"
xcopy "test2" "C:\temp"
del C:\myprogram\sync\
xcopy "C:\temp" "test"
xcopy "C:\temp" "test2"
del "c:\temp"

Use the XCOPY command:

xcopy "C:\myprogram\html\data.sql"  /c /d /h /e /i /y  "C:\myprogram\sync\"

I will explain what the /c /d /h /e /i /y means:

  /C           Continues copying even if errors occur.
  /D:m-d-y     Copies files changed on or after the specified date.
               If no date is given, copies only those files whose
               source time is newer than the destination time.
  /H           Copies hidden and system files also.
  /E           Copies directories and subdirectories, including empty ones.
               Same as /S /E. May be used to modify /T.
  /T           Creates directory structure, but does not copy files. Does not
               include empty directories or subdirectories. /T /E includes
  /I           If destination does not exist and copying more than one file,
               assumes that destination must be a directory.
  /Y           Suppresses prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an
               existing destination file.

`To see all the commands type`xcopy /? in cmd

Call other batch file with option sync.bat myprogram.ini.

I am not sure what you mean by this, but if you just want to open both of these files you just put the path of the file like

Path/sync.bat
Path/myprogram.ini

If it was in the Bash environment it was easy for me, but I do not know how to test if a file or folder exists and if it is a file or folder.

You are using a batch file. You mentioned earlier you have to create a .bat file to use this:

I have to create a .BAT file that does this:

Answer 3

Type IF /? to get help about if, it clearly explains how to use IF EXIST.

To delete a complete tree except some folders, see the answer of this question: Windows batch script to delete everything in a folder except one

Finally copying just means calling COPY and calling another bat file can be done like this:

MYOTHERBATFILE.BAT sync.bat myprogram.ini