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.

Answer 1

I'm thinking that if you are creating a batch script that relies on the Current Directory being set to the folder that contains the batch file, that you are setting yourself up for trouble when you try to execute the batch file using a fully qualified path as you would from a scheduler.

Better to add this line to your batch file too:

REM Change Current Directory to the location of this batch file 
CD /D %~dp0

unless you are fully qualifying all of your paths.

Answer 2

You could add a context menu entry through the registry:

1. Navigate in your Registry to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Classes/Folder/Shell and create a key called "Command Prompt" without the quotes.

2. Set the default string to whatever text you want to appear in the right-click menu.

3. Create a new key within your newly created command prompt named "command," and set the default string to

   cmd.exe /k pushd %1
   

You may need to add %SystemRoot%\system32\ before the cmd.exe if the executable can't be found.

1. The changes should take place immediately. Right click a folder and your new menu item should appear.

Also see http://www.petri.co.il/add_command_prompt_here_shortcut_to_windows_explorer.htm

Answer 3

Referring to answer of @Chris,

We can also go to parent directory of batch file and run commands using following

cd /d %~dp0..
<OTHER_BATCH_COMMANDS>
cmd.exe

To understand working of command cd /d %~dp0.. please refer below link

What does it mean by command cd /d %~dp0 in Windows

Answer 4

Most simple way in explorer is to Shift + right mouse click on the folder or on an empty space in the folder and click on Open command prompt here.

CMD will then start in that folder

I must say, I'm not sure if it works for Windows Vista and below, but it surely works for Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10.