This post might help someone that wants to create a Batch or Command script that accepts named arguments.

Quick Introduction

Normally, when you pass arguments or parameters to a batch script, they are in an order and are assigned a number, for example:

MyScript.cmd "Some Value" ABC 123

You can get the value of any argument using a % followed by it's numerical position. The first item passed is always %1 the second item is always %2 and so on.

%1 = "Some Value"

%2 = ABC

%3 = 123

%* in a batch script refers to all the arguments (e.g. %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 ...%255) , but only arguments %1 to %9 can be referenced by number.

My Scenario

To demonstrate my point, I made up this scenario. Let's say for some reason, when you launch Internet Explorer, you want to pass the URL to the Browser, but also have the option to pop-up an informative message before the browser starts and in certain cases have the ability to not launch the browser at all, but just display an informative pop-up message.

Batch Script File

On a side note, I use Notepad++ to edit my Batch scripts. It is also very handy for many other types of scripts because it does Syntax Highlighting.

Create a file called launch-IE.cmd and copy the script code that is listed below into the file and save it to a folder called D:\Scripts

Note: The batch script contains remarks to help you.

ECHO OFF CLS:: === Variables :: --- Script Runtime folderSET mRuntime=D:\Scripts

:: --- Creates a Random named CMD file in Users TEMP folderSET mFilename=%TEMP%\%RANDOM% SET mCMDFile="%mFilename%.CMD":: === Check CMD FIle Arguments :: --- Ensure there are ArgumentsIF [%1]==[] GOTO:ARG_NONE:: --- Set Variables from ArgumentsFOR %%A IN (%*) DO (SET %%A):: --- Validate REQUIRED ArgumentsIF /I [%-URL%] EQU [] GOTO:ARG_REQUIRED:: --- Validate OPTIONAL Arguments :: --- To show an additional pop-up message before program launchesIF /I "%-ShowMsg%" EQU "" ( SET mMsgShow=FALSE ) ELSE ( IF NOT EXIST "%-ShowMsg%" ECHO ERROR: Cannot find Message file & GOTO:SHOW_SYNTAX SET mMsgShow=TRUE SET mMsgCMD=START "" /D "%mRuntime%" /LOW /WAIT "%mRuntime%\popupMsg.exe" -i "%-ShowMsg%" ):: --- Define the Application you want to LaunchSET mRunFolder=%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Internet Explorer SET mRunEXE=%mRunFolder%\iexplore.exe SET mRunCMD=START "" /D "%mRunFolder%" "%mRunEXE%" %-URL%:: === Start :START:: --- Create CMD to Launch Application> %mCMDFile% ECHO ECHO OFF IF /I [%mMsgShow%] EQU [TRUE] ECHO %mMsgCMD% >> %mCMDFile% IF /I [%-SkipLaunch%] NEQ [TRUE] ECHO %mRunCMD% >> %mCMDFile%:: --- LaunchSTART "" /MIN C:\Windows\System32\CMD.EXE /c "%mCMDFile%":ENDEXIT:: === SYNTAX Definition for this CMD File :ARG_NONE:: --- Argument ErrorECHO ERROR: No COMMAND Line arguments found... ECHO Arguments List: %* GOTO:SHOW_SYNTAX:ARG_REQUIREDECHO ERROR: One or more REQUIRED arguments are missing.. ECHO Arguments List: %* GOTO:SHOW_SYNTAX:SHOW_SYNTAXECHO: ECHO Syntax........: %~n0.CMD "-URL=url" "-ShowMsg=FullPathFile" "-SkipLaunch=TRUE" ECHO: ECHO Named Argument: -URL : This is a REQUIRED argument. ECHO : "-URL=https://bing.com" ECHO: ECHO Named Argument: -ShowMsg : Show Message: OPTIONAL ECHO : "-ShowMsg=Full Path with space\Filename.ini" ECHO: ECHO Named Argument: -SkipLaunch : Skip launching Main Application: OPTIONAL ECHO : "-SkipLaunch=TRUE" ECHO: ECHO Press any key to close window... PAUSE >NUL EXIT /B 1

Create a Desktop Shortcut

Target: Use any one of these examples

D:\Scripts\launch-IE.cmd "-URL=bing.ca" D:\Scripts\launch-IE.cmd "-URL=bing.ca" "-ShowMsg=popupMsg.ini" D:\Scripts\launch-IE.cmd "-URL=bing.ca" "-ShowMsg=popupMsg.ini" "-SkipLaunch=TRUE"

Start in: D:\Scripts

Click on the [Change Icon...] button to select an Icon from: %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe

Note: popupMsg.exe is not part of Windows. It is just a utility I wrote to help me in my day to day activities in dealing with application outages.

I have zipped the Launch-IE.cmd, popupMsg.exe and popupMsg.ini files for you to download if you wish to do that. [Download]

Output Example:

Thank you for reading my post. Happy scripting...