Is it possible to redirect the output of a batch file inside the script?

Question

I would like to set the standard output of a batch script to go to a file. I would like to do this inside the script if possible.

Note: I do not want to do this: foo.bat > StdOut.txt

I would like to do something inside the script to redirect the output to a file
For example:

foo.bat

:: Redirect standard output to StdOut.txt
:: Insert batch code to do what I want here.

Solution 1

One way of doing it is the following. Use the call command to execute a label in the script. Edit I realized the first version I posted does not seem to work in a cmd.exe prompt (I was using TCC). The following seems to work in both command processors:

@echo off
call :testitout > t.tmp
goto:eof

:testitout
echo Hi There
echo Goodbye

Solution 2

> is the standard, so you're more-or-less stuck with that; however, you can move it inside the batch file:

foo.bat:

@echo off
@echo Start File > StdOut.txt
@dir >> StdOut.txt
@echo End File >> StdOut.txt

Comments

[SwDevMan81]

Thanks, this was exactly what I was looking for

[Mark Wilkins]

@SwDevMan81, The reason I looked is because I have wanted to do this in the past and never knew how. But your question prompted my brain to remember that the call command could call a label in the batch file, which made me wonder if this trick would work. So I only just now learned this.

[SwDevMan81]

Yeah I definitely wont have thought of this. Looks like we both learned something new today :)

[HiredMind]

I think you also have to redirect error output to standard output to see everything.

[Alexander Amelkin]

It's great, but there is a number of problems with this solution, especially if you're converting an existing script: * Utilities that detect redirection and behave differently (e.g., more) will think they are run interactively * Positional variables that contain arguments to the script will not be available after the call unless you explicitly call :testitout %* May be there are more. The first one is currently driving me nuts... Anyone got a solution for that? I can't think of anything better than running more /p >&2 when redirecting as call :testitout >t.tmp 2>&1.