Batch file capabilities can be improved via external .exe files, in the same way provided by the standard DOS-Windows external commands (findstr.exe, sort.exe, etc). I developed a series of auxiliary commands that provide some additional features to Batch programs, so we can use these commands to assemble a more complex advanced facilities. These auxiliary programs are native Windows console applications, so they run in any Windows version. To keep the programs small, they do not show any error message nor help description; if a parameter is wrong, the program just terminate at that point; the full description is given below. To get a copy of these commands, copy the desired CommandName.exe.hex file and convert it via HexToBin.bat conversion program.

EDIT: Below there is an index of these auxiliary commands and example programs with the number of the particular reply, if any, where each program was posted. Just copy the &p=... part and paste it in the address bar after t=3428.



1- StrLen.exe.hex:

EDIT: I slightly modified Show.exe program to also accept an X-letter instead an asterisk in CODExTIMES parameter.

2- Show.exe.hex:
Example:
Output:
If an Ascii code is followed by an asterisk and counter, the character is repeated that number of times. For example, the Batch subroutine below show a frame in the screen given the width and height:

If a variable is followed by a colon and wide, it is adjusted to fit/fill that number of characters. The adjustment is usually done at right side of variable value, but if wide have minus sign the adjustment will be done at left side, and if wide have plus sign the adjustment will be done at both sides of variable value (centered). For example, the Batch subroutine below show the contents of a (small) text file centered into a single-line frame:
For example, if we use this data file:... previous subroutine produce this output:

These subroutines use Ascii "line" characters of standard code pages 850 and 437. If "line" characters not appear in your screen, insert a CHCP 850 command at beginning.


3- GetKey.exe.hex:
The program below (SHOWKEYCODES.BAT) display the codes returned by GetKey for all special keys in the keyboard, including Shift-, Ctrl- and Alt- combinations. You may run this program and copy just the specific codes you need.

ReadLine subroutine below process keystrokes one-by-one to read a line emulating SET /P command (BackSpace delete last character, Enter terminate the line). In this case, the "prompt" must be enclosed in quotes and the variable will be erased if the input line is empty:

Previous routine may be easily modified to suit specific needs. For example, to read digits only:

To convert lower-case letters to upper-case ones:

To read a password, just echo an asterisk instead of the same key read:

You may also codify the password character read so the real password never appear in the source Batch program.

/N switch is useful to control actively interactive programs; for example, a program may repeat a loop until a key is pressed:

Of course, more complex interactive routines are also possible. For example, the subroutine below perform a timed read line, that is, it limits the time allowed to complete the input to a given number of seconds; if that time is exceeded, "Input timeout" is assigned to the input variable:

When GetKey /N command is used, cancelling any previous keystroke is sometimes required. This can be done with the following program.


4- FlushInputBuffer.exe.hex


Feel free to copy and use these programs in any way you wish. I'd appreciate it if you report any problem you may find.

Antonio

Just a suggestion: If you package them all up in a single batch file which will create all of your utilities in one copy and paste, then people are more likely to want to try them.

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Abra cadabra I like the getkey

Thanks Aacini,

The following Batch subroutine separate in two 16-bits numbers the 32-bits ERRORLEVEL value returned by some auxiliary programs:



EDIT: I added optional parameters to Window GSize command. The following .hex file contain the updated version and the new parameters are described below.

5- Window.exe.hex:
Remember that MODE CON command get or set window Buffer size, and that window Screen size may be smaller or equal, but not larger than Buffer size. For example:

To change both sizes first change buffer size with MODE CON, then change screen size with Window Size; you may also change both window size and position in the same Window command giving Size and GPos parameters in that order. You may insert an equal-sign before the first value and a comma before the second one, if you wish. For example:

I suggest you to test this program in a separated window this way: START MOVEWINDOW

When I began to write previous program, I got codes of the arrow keys this way: SHOWKEYCODES | FIND "Arrow" > MOVEWINDOW.BAT

Window GSize Hide command hide the window. A minimized or hidden window can not be cancelled via keyboard, and a hidden window can not be manually selected; the only way to recover a hidden window is via Window GSize Show. For example:



6- CursorPos.exe.hex:
You may insert an equal-sign before the first coordinate and a comma before the second one, if you wish. For example:

If only one coordinate is given (with no sign), a position as col+(row<<16) is assumed; this feature makes simpler to return the cursor to a previous position:

Previous feature also allows to modify both coordinates in a single operation this way:

If the cursor is moved to a screen buffer position that is not visible in the screen window, its contents is automatically scrolled to show the new cursor position; for example: cls & CursorPos 0 299

We may use this command for other things apart from show messages at any point in the screen. For example:

We may even draw trigonometric functions if we define a table of SIN(x) values multiplied by a standard factor (ie: 0xFFFF or 65535):

This way, to get SIN(x) multiplied by a number, just multiply the SIN[%x%] table value by the number and shift the result 16 bits to the right. This method correctly works with signed values because SET /A right shift operation is an aritmethic one (SAR), although the documentation indicate that is "logical shift" (SHR).

For example, to draw a simple SIN(x) graph, use DRAWEQUATION program above with these values:

It is interesting to note that in the evaluation of previous equation, the sustitution of variable values are performed three times in the same line:

0- Read the equation: f(x)=SIN[!x!]*20>>16
1- Normal %variable% expansion: set /A "y=%f(x)%" becomes: set /A "y=SIN[!x!]*20>>16"
2- Delayed !variable! expansion: set /A "y=SIN[!x!]*20>>16" becomes: set /A "y=SIN[1]*20>>16" (when x=1)
3- Replace variable values in SET /A command: set /A "y=1144*20>>16"

When CursorPos.exe move the cursor, the value returned in ERRORLEVEL is not the previous cursor position, as usual, but the Ascii code of the character in the screen at new cursor position. This feature makes possible that a program manage screen contents with no necessity for duplicate it in variables. This method is fast enough to develop some interactive animation programs, like a basic video-game:


Have fun!

Antonio

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Really need to learn the x86 instruction set somedayZzz...

Thanks a lot, Ed!
Yes, it is the way to do some "magic" (not by sleight of hand)


I made a couple minor corrections to above programs; if you copied some of the programs below, you should complete these changes:

- In MOVEWINDOW.BAT @ line 8: "set keyName=", delete the line.

- In DefineSinTable subroutine, before "exit /B", insert this line:
- In SNAKE.BAT program, under "rem Clear tail, advance tail" section, between these two lines:insert these ones:
These are minor changes that have not major effects; they delete variables that will not be used again. I documented the changes here because someone could note them.


An interesting change that will improve SNAKE game is the addition of some random "walls" that make snake movement more difficult. The walls could be larger and/or more numerous depending on the number of apples the snake ate in the last game (given by growStep variable). Wants someone to achieve this change perhaps? I am very busy right now preparing the following sleights of hand...

Antonio

I added optional parameters to Window GSize command that allows to minimize, maximize and restore a window; also, there are two additional parameters that allows to Hide and Show a window. An interesting feature of these new parameters is that a hidden window can not be manually cancelled! For further details, see Window.exe command description above.

Antonio

7- StdTime.exe.hex:
Examples.

Create a file with current time as name in HH-MM-SS.txt format:
Show the future time 1:30 hours ahead current one (in same day):
List files modified in the last 3 hours (in same day):
To get elapsed times, get the time at start and end of the process and subtract them:The elapsed time is given in milliseconds; the subroutine below display this value in a readable format:


8- StdDate.exe.hex:
In the examples below MM/DD/YYYY date format is assumed. If your locale is different, use the appropiate format when enter the example date values.

Get and show current day of week (0=Sunday, 1=Monday, ...):
Show current date in long format:
Create a directory with current date as name in YYYY-MM-DD format:
List files older than 30 days:On January 8, 1994 Russian cosmonaut, Valeri Polyakov, was launched in Soyuz TM-18 mission to MIR space station. Some technical problems avoided him to be rotated when next mission arrived MIR, so he must stayed there waiting for the following one, Soyuz TM-20, making his spaceflight the longest one for a human being: 437 days. When Polyakov returned to Earth?The "Thousand Days War" was a civil armed conflict in the newly created Republic of Colombia and the then province, Panama, that begun on October 17th, 1899 and ended on November 21, 1902. How many days that war really lasts?Although the next subroutine does not use StdDate program, it is included here to complete date-related examples.
Previous method first appeared in "Butcher's Ecclesiastical Calendar" on 1876, but was reprinted on 1981 in "Practical Astronomy with your Calculator, 2nd Edition", Peter Duffett-Smith, Cambridge University Press. For example, Easter Sunday of year 2013 is March 31.


These auxiliary programs should solve all time and date locale related problems; however, I can test they just with my own locale (DD/MM/YYYY). Please, test these programs and report any problem you may encounter. I appreciate it if you report that the programs works correctly in YYYY/MM/DD date format or with "p.m." time indicator in other languages.


Antonio

9- Ascii.exe.hex:


10- CursorSize.exe.hex:
Example:



The following Batch subroutine define several values useful to write color attributes:



11- TextColor.exe.hex:
For example, to execute a program so normal output appear in white text on blue background, and error output appear in yellow text on red background:
NOTE: TextColor.exe program may not work in certain computers (like my own!) ; in this case, it returns a negative error code in ERRORLEVEL (in my computer the error code is -998). Even if the program runs correctly, text output may occasionally present color errors (like this one). It seems that program fails when the video hardware is not entirely compatible (ie: some laptops), and that posterior color errors are related to window buffer size vs. screen size. We need a more complete tests on this matter...


EDIT: I slightly modified ColorShow.exe program to also accept an X-letter instead an asterisk in CODExTIMES parameter.

12- ColorShow.exe.hex:
Examples:
The following Batch subroutine allows to select one of several options in one line.
A couple examples of previous subroutine:

Antonio

StrLen.exe is going to help me a lot. Thank you very much, Antonio.

The Batch program below is a simple, but funny example of text animation.


I added an index of these auxiliary programs in the first post of this topic; I suggest you to take a look at it.

Antonio