What does “&&” do in this batch file?

  • & separates commands on a line.

  • && executes this command only if previous command’s errorlevel is 0.

  • || (not used above) executes this command only if previous command’s errorlevel is NOT 0

  • > output to a file

  • >> append output to a file

  • < input from a file

  • | output of one command into the input of another command

  • ^ escapes any of the above, including itself, if needed to be passed to a program

  • " parameters with spaces must be enclosed in quotes

  • + used with copy to concatenate files. E.G. copy file1+file2 newfile

  • , used with copy to indicate missing parameters. This updates the files modified date. E.G. copy /b file1,,

  • %variablename% an inbuilt or user set environmental variable

  • !variablename! a user set environmental variable expanded at execution time, turned with SetLocal EnableDelayedExpansion command

  • %<number> (%1) the nth command line parameter passed to a batch file. %0 is the batchfile’s name.

  • %* (%*) the entire command line.

  • %<a letter> or %%<a letter> (%A or %%A) the variable in a for loop. Single % sign at command prompt and double % sign in a batch file.

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