How to check if a file exists from inside a batch file
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How to check if a file exists from inside a batch file
Question
I need to run a utility only if a certain file exists. How do I do this in Windows batch?
2011/01/26
Accepted Answer
if exist <insert file name here> (
rem file exists
) else (
rem file doesn't exist
)
Or on a single line (if only a single action needs to occur):
if exist <insert file name here> <action>
for example, this opens notepad on autoexec.bat, if the file exists:
if exist c:\autoexec.bat notepad c:\autoexec.bat
2015/03/24
Read more… Read less…
C:\>help if
Performs conditional processing in batch programs.
IF [NOT] ERRORLEVEL number command
IF [NOT] string1==string2 command
IF [NOT] EXIST filename command
2013/05/15
Try something like the following example, quoted from the output of IF /?
on Windows XP:
IF EXIST filename. ( del filename. ) ELSE ( echo filename. missing. )
You can also check for a missing file with IF NOT EXIST
.
The IF
command is quite powerful. The output of IF /?
will reward careful reading. For that matter, try the /?
option on many of the other built-in commands for lots of hidden gems.
2018/10/23
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