Several ways to call a windows batch file from another one or from prompt. Which one in which case?
- by dim
A windows batch file (called.bat or called.cmd) can be called from another batch file (caller.bat or caller.cmd) or interactive cmd.exe prompt in several ways:
direct call: called.bat
using call command: call called.bat
using cmd command: cmd /c called.bat
using start command: start called.bat
I'm quite in trouble to differentiate their intended usage based on their help text: when to use which one? e.g. why I might use 'call' command instead of direct call. What's different?
I'm interested on some summary report that analyze all 4 possibilities (and others if any missing) from various point of views: recommended use cases for which they are designed to fit, process spawning, execution context, environment, return code processing.
Note: I'm using Windows XP SP3.