How to create a selectable list in Window batch file (.bat)

Last updated on December 17, 2023

1. Full script.

@echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion

set count=0
set folders=travel family work avatar

for %%0 in (%folders%) do (
    set /a count=count+1
    set choice[!count!]=%%0
)

echo.
echo What is your select folders?
echo.

for /l %%x in (1,1,!count!) do (
    echo [%%x] !choice[%%x]!
)
echo.

set /p chose=?
echo.

echo You chose !choice[%chose%]!
set folder=!choice[%chose%]!

xcopy /s /e /r /y %folder%\*.* E:\Photos\%folder%\

2. Explain in detail.

I want to copy all images in specific folder in to my external hard disk which is mount to E:\. I will copy it to E:\Photos\<folder>. The <folder> will be one of list: “travel, family, work, avatar”.

• As usual, we add @echo off to disable all message when running unless we define one.

• setlocal enabledelayedexpansion : Delayed Expansion will cause variables to be expanded at execution time rather than at parse time (Refer to: EnableDelayedExpansion)

• Now I define 2 variables count and folders. count is index will be shown when we want to select. folders contains all folders name which are <folder> as above.

set count=0
set folders=travel family work avatar

• Now we loop the folder list to create select list.

for %%0 in (%folders%) do (
    set /a count=count+1
    set choice[!count!]=%%0
)

• After for loop is done, choice contains all select item like this:

• Next, we ask user which option they will choose:

echo.
echo What is your select folders?
echo.

for /l %%x in (1,1,!count!) do (
    echo [%%x] !choice[%%x]!
)
echo.

• After enter a number to command line, your selected value will show and transfer to xcopy command on last line

set /p chose=?
echo.

echo You chose !choice[%chose%]!
set folder=!choice[%chose%]!

3. Conclusion.

This is a very simple select list to make selectable options when running batch file on Window. If you want to do it on UNIX, please refer this: HERE

Good luck.