How do I find the current directory of a batch file and then use it for the path

Question

I have a batch file that I intend to distribute to our customers to run a software task    We distribute them as a folder or  zip with the files inside  Inside  there is the batch files and another folder with the files needed to run the batch   Normally  when you make a batch  you type the path where the files are  But I won t know where the files are  The files will still be kept inside the master folder  but I need to have the batch find that folder to run the files   So for example  If they have the master folder on the desktop and they run it  it would need to be something like  C  Users Username Desktop  to run  You would have the batch CD to that location    But what if they run it from documents  I don t know the username  so I have to somehow have the batch find this  Any code and or instructions would be great

User · Accepted Answer

There is no need to know where the files are, because when you launch a bat file the working directory is the directory where it was launched (the "master folder"), so if you have this structure:

.\mydocuments\folder\mybat.bat
.\mydocuments\folder\subfolder\file.txt

And the user starts the "mybat.bat", the working directory is ".\mydocuments\folder", so you only need to write the subfolder name in your script:

@Echo OFF
REM Do anything with ".\Subfolder\File1.txt"
PUSHD ".\Subfolder"
Type "File1.txt"
Pause&Exit

Anyway, the working directory is stored in the "%CD%" variable, and the directory where the bat was launched is stored on the argument 0. Then if you want to know the working directory on any computer you can do:

@Echo OFF
Echo Launch dir: "%~dp0"
Echo Current dir: "%CD%"
Pause&Exit

User · Answer

You can also do    Pushd    dp0    Which also takes running from a unc path into consideration

User · Answer

Try in yourbatch  set  batchisin   dp0    which should set the variable to your batch s location

User · Answer

ElektroStudios answer is a bit misleading    when you launch a bat file the working dir is the dir where it was launched  This is true if the user clicks on the batch file in the explorer   However  if the script is called from another script using the CALL command  the current working directory does not change   Thus  inside your script  it is better to use   dp0subfolder file1 txt  Please also note that   dp0 will end with a backslash when the current script is not in the current working directory  Thus  if you need the directory name without a trailing backslash  you could use something like  call  GET THIS DIR echo I am here   THIS DIR  goto  EOF   GET THIS DIR pushd   dp0 set THIS DIR  CD  popd goto  EOF

[file] How do I find the current directory of a batch file, and then use it for the path?

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