1

I am trying to run a sequence of commands using the cmd command, the /k switch, and && to separate each command in the sequence.

For example, I would like to run this command to change to one folder, and then to the next:

cmd /k "cd C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office" && "cd C:\Program Files\Windows Mail"

But this doesn't work - it changes the folder only to Microsoft Office, and then stops.

How do I get this done?

Edit:

Actually, @señor-csmasmas is correct - my earlier example doesn't really demonstrate the problem.

The problem actually shows up when I run a command that has spaces in the path, followed by a command to change a directory.

For example, if you create a bat file which copies a file (let's call it copyfile.bat), and place the bat file in a folder with spaces, then call the cmd command like so:

C:\windows\system32\cmd.exe /k "C:\Test Folder\copyfile.bat" && "cd C:\Some Other Folder"

You will see that the current directory is not changed to C:\Some Other Folder.

Improve this question
2
  • A better example would be helpful even though @Hannu has already answered your question. Your example is pointless. One other point, if you can't make it work using file names with spaces.. you can always use the short file name. Commented Aug 1, 2023 at 16:18
  • @SeñorCMasMas Using sort name would do fine, but just understanding where the "double quotes are needed" would do the trick. Commented Aug 2, 2023 at 13:03

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
2

// Edit

The problem actually shows up when I run a command that has spaces in the path, followed by a command to change a directory.

For example, if you create a bat file which copies a file (let's call it copyfile.bat), and place the bat file in a folder with spaces, then call the cmd command like so:

C:\windows\system32\cmd.exe /k "C:\Test Folder\copyfile.bat" && "cd > C:\Some Other Folder" :: try :: C:\windows\system32\cmd.exe /k "call "C:\Test Folder\copyfile.bat" && cd /d "C:\Some Other Folder""

Edit //

cmd /k "cd "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office" && cd "C:\Program Files\Windows Mail""

Try to visualize how your commands and the operator will look likes between double quotes where necessary in a single cmd /k "command "with" operator and another command "with""

cmd /k " cd /d "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office" && cd /d "C:\Program Files\Windows Mail" " cmd /k " command "path #1" && command "path #2" "
Improve this answer
0
0

Before windows was DOS and before that was CP/M.

CP/M would generally only run single commands.

DOS increasingly had more and more abilities to split CPU usage for separate processes, thus you could run a secondary command.com from the primary level with its own environment.

So Windows inherited a need for several ways to call command processes, and thus 3 master switches still survive.

command.com should be dead
enter image description here

The new kid on the block is cmd.exe at it defaults to same behaviour as /K (keep active) and you can exit back to current cmd level here is your problem

enter image description here

However we often want to let a cmd run and return console control & continue so that is /c

So what is the third ? It is not listed !

enter image description here

enter image description here

so /c and /r are synonymous both act as run and continue

OK that was a diversion and does not answer the question which is potentially similar to this problem that the commands in a line are run before used (non delayed execution)

enter image description here

We could expect %CD% to report c:\users but clearly was not

So to your answer

You want to move to another location and start a fresh Konsole then you need to change the order and method

you have

cmd /k "cd C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office" && "cd C:\Program Files\Windows Mail"

So this works (may well be overkill ?)

enter image description here

cmd /c start " " cmd /r "cd /d "c:\program files" && cmd /k" && cd /d "c:\users"

we start a secondary process that will /run cd and /k then we change to another cwd and it should work the other way round too

So try this answer

start "Office Dir" cmd /k "cd C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office" && cd "C:\Program Files\Windows Mail"

optionally add a && dir to verify during test

If what you are after is two seperate consoles like this enter image description here

then use this order

cd /d "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office" && start "office" cmd /k && cd /d "C:\Program Files\Windows Mail" && start "Mail" cmd /k
Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.