BAT file to open CMD in current directory

Question

I have many scripts which I interact with from the command line. Everytime I need to use them, I have to open a command line window and copy+paste and CD to the path to the directory they are in. This is tedious (they are in a rather deep file system, so typing out the full path is a pain, copy+paste is better but not much). I tried to create a .BAT file that I could double-click on that would open a new command-line window in the folder the .bat file exists in but it does not work. It opens a new window, but the working directory is not the directory that .bat file is in. Here's what I've got after much googling (My cmd skills ain't so great):

cd %CD%
cmd.exe

I know from when I used Linux that Konqueror had a "Command-line window here" feature, and that's the effect I'm trying to get on Windows.

Solution 1

Create a file named open_dos_here.cmd with the following lines:

%~d1
cd "%~p1"
call cmd

Put this file at any folder. Then, go to your Send To folder (Win+E; Alt+D;shell:sendto;Enter). Create a shortcut to point to this open_dos_here.cmd

Then, in any folder, select any file or sub-folder. Right-click and select "Send To" and then select open_dos_here.cmd to open the DOS in that folder.

Solution 2

you probably want to do this:

cd /d %~dp0
cmd.exe

this will set your current directory to the directory you have the batch file in

Solution 3

You can just enter cmd into the address bar in Explorer and it starts up in that path. Likewise for PowerShell.

Solution 4

There's more simple way

start /d "folder path"

Solution 5

As a more general solution you might want to check out the Microsoft Power Toy for XP that adds the "Open Command Window Here" option when you right-click: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

In Vista and Windows 7, you'll get that option if you hold down shift and right-click (this is built in).

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