Windows .bat/.cmd function library in own file?

Question

there is a nice way to build functions in DOS .bat/.cmd script. To modularize some installation scripts, it would be nice to include a file with a library of functions into an .

Answer 1

I came up with a simple solution for using external libraries with batch files, and I would like to ask you guys to test it and find possible bugs.

How to use:

• Create a library (a folder with library batch files inside)
• Put this header before any batch file you create that uses a library.

Principle of operation:

• Creates a temporary file with the libraries copied at the end of the file. It searches for the libraries in all paths listed in %_IncludesPath%.
• For it to work, the libraries have to be in a "funcion" structure. Example libraries can be found at: http://www.commandline.co.uk/lib/treeview/index.php?contents.php&../treeview/main.php

How it works:

• Creates a temporary file at %TEMP% (won´t work if %TEMP% is not set)
• Copies itself to this temporary file
• Searches for each library in these paths:
  • original batch file path
  • %BatchLibraryPath%
  • Any other path listed in %_IncludesPath%
• Appends these libraries to the temporary file
• Runs the temporary file
• exits and deletes temporary file

Advantages:

• Passed command line arguments work perfectly
• No need to end the user code with any special command
• Libraries can be anywhere in the computer
• Libraries can be in shared folders with UNC paths
• You can have libraries in different paths and all of them will be added (if same library is found in different paths, the one at the left-most path in %_IncludesPath% is used)
• Returns errorlevel if any error occurs

Code:

• Here is an example: for this to work you must have the Example.bat library in the Your_batch_file.bat folder (or in one of the %_IncludesPath% folders)

Your_batch_file.bat

@echo off & setlocal EnableExtensions 
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
::Your code starts in :_main
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
::   v1.5 - 01/08/2015 - by Cyberponk - Fixed returning to original path when using RequestAdminElevation
::   v1.4 - 25/05/2015 - by Cyberponk 
::   This module includes funcions from included libraries so that you can call
::   them inside the :_main program
::
::   Options
set "_DeleteOnExit=0" &:: if 1, %_TempFile% will be deleted on exit (set to 0 if using library RequestAdminElevation)
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
(if "%BatchLibraryPath%"=="" set "BatchLibraryPath=.") &set "_ErrorCode=" &set "#include=call :_include" 
set _LibPaths="%~dp0";"%BatchLibraryPath%"&set "_TempFile=%TEMP%\_%~nx0" 
echo/@echo off ^& CD /D "%~dp0" ^& goto:_main> "%_TempFile%"  || (echo/Unable to create "%_TempFile%" &echo/Make sure the %%TEMP%% path has Read/Write access and that a file with the same name doesn't exist already &endlocal &md; 2>nul &goto:eof ) &type "%~dpf0" >> "%_TempFile%" &echo/>>"%_TempFile%" &echo goto:eof>>"%_TempFile%" &call :_IncludeLibraries
(if "%_ErrorCode%"=="" (call "%_TempFile%" %*) else (echo/%_ErrorCode% &pause)) & (if "%_DeleteOnExit%"=="1" (del "%_TempFile%")) & endlocal & (if "%_ErrorCode%" NEQ "" (set "_ErrorCode=" & md; 2>nul)) &goto:eof 
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:_include lib
set "lib=%~1.bat" &set "_included="
  (if EXIST "%lib%" ( set "_included=1" &echo/>> "%_TempFile%" &type "%lib%" >> "%_TempFile%" & goto:eof )) & for %%a in (%_LibPaths%) do (if EXIST "%%~a\%lib%" ( set "_included=1" &echo/>> "%_TempFile%" &type "%%~a\%lib%" >> "%_TempFile%" &goto:endfor))
  :endfor
  (if NOT "%_included%"=="1" ( set "_ErrorCode=%_ErrorCode%Library '%~1.bat' not fount, aborting...&echo/Verify if the environment variable BatchLibraryPath is pointing to the right path - and has no quotes - or add a custom path to line 25&echo/" )) &goto:eof
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:_IncludeLibraries - Your included libraries go here
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:: You can add custom paths to this variable:
  set _LibPaths=%_LibPaths%; C:\; \\SERVER\folder

:: Add a line for each library you want to include (use quotes for paths with space)
:: Examples:
::  %#include% beep
::  %#include% Network\GetIp
::  %#include% "Files and Folders\GetDirStats"
::  %#include% "c:\Files and Folders\GetDriveSize"
::  %#include% "\\SERVER\batch\SendHello"

  %#include% Example

goto:eof
::End _IncludeLibraries

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:_main - Your code goes here
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

echo/Example code:
call :Example "It works!"

echo/____________________
echo/Work folder: %CD%
echo/
echo/This file: %0
echo/
echo/Library paths: %_LibPaths%
echo/____________________
echo/Argument 1 = %1
echo/Argument 2 = %2
echo/All Arguments = %*
echo/____________________

pause

.

Example.bat

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:Example msg
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
setlocal ENABLEEXTENSIONS & set "msg=%1"
  echo/%msg%
endlocal & goto :EOF
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

If you want an easy way to set the %BatchLibraryPath%, just put this file inside your Library path and run it before running Your_batch_file.bat. This setting is persistent on reboots, so you run this once only:

SetBatchLibraryPath.bat

setx BatchLibraryPath "%~dp0"
pause