Converting DOS Batch Files to Shell Scripts

Quite a number of programmers learned scripting on a PC running DOS. Even the crippled DOS batch file language allowed writing some fairly powerful scripts and applications, though they often required extensive kludges and workarounds. Occasionally, the need still arises to convert an old DOS batch file to a UNIX shell script. This is generally not difficult, as DOS batch file operators are only a limited subset of the equivalent shell scripting ones.

Table H-1. Batch file keywords / variables / operators, and their shell equivalents

Batch File Operator	Shell Script Equivalent	Meaning
%	$	command-line parameter prefix
/	-	command option flag
\	/	directory path separator
==	=	(equal-to) string comparison test
!==!	!=	(not equal-to) string comparison test
|	|	pipe
@	set +v	do not echo current command
*	*	filename "wild card"
>	>	file redirection (overwrite)
>>	>>	file redirection (append)
<	<	redirect stdin
%VAR%	$VAR	environmental variable
REM	#	comment
NOT	!	negate following test
NUL	/dev/null	"black hole" for burying command output
ECHO	echo	echo (many more option in Bash)
ECHO.	echo	echo blank line
ECHO OFF	set +v	do not echo command(s) following
FOR %%VAR IN (LIST) DO	for var in [list]; do	"for" loop
:LABEL	none (unnecessary)	label
GOTO	none (use a function)	jump to another location in the script
PAUSE	sleep	pause or wait an interval
CHOICE	case or select	menu choice
IF	if	if-test
IF EXIST FILENAME	if [ -e filename ]	test if file exists
IF !%N==!	if [ -z "$N" ]	if replaceable parameter "N" not present
CALL	source or . (dot operator)	"include" another script
COMMAND /C	source or . (dot operator)	"include" another script (same as CALL)
SET	export	set an environmental variable
SHIFT	shift	left shift command-line argument list
SGN	-lt or -gt	sign (of integer)
ERRORLEVEL	$?	exit status
CON	stdin	"console" (stdin)
PRN	/dev/lp0	(generic) printer device
LPT1	/dev/lp0	first printer device
COM1	/dev/ttyS0	first serial port

Batch files usually contain DOS commands. These must be translated into their UNIX equivalents in order to convert a batch file into a shell script.

Table H-2. DOS Commands and Their UNIX Equivalents

DOS Command	UNIX Equivalent	Effect
ASSIGN	ln	link file or directory
ATTRIB	chmod	change file permissions
CD	cd	change directory
CHDIR	cd	change directory
CLS	clear	clear screen
COMP	diff, comm, cmp	file compare
COPY	cp	file copy
Ctl-C	Ctl-C	break (signal)
Ctl-Z	Ctl-D	EOF (end-of-file)
DEL	rm	delete file(s)
DELTREE	rm -rf	delete directory recursively
DIR	ls -l	directory listing
ERASE	rm	delete file(s)
EXIT	exit	exit current process
FC	comm, cmp	file compare
FIND	grep	find strings in files
MD	mkdir	make directory
MKDIR	mkdir	make directory
MORE	more	text file paging filter
MOVE	mv	move
PATH	$PATH	path to executables
REN	mv	rename (move)
RENAME	mv	rename (move)
RD	rmdir	remove directory
RMDIR	rmdir	remove directory
SORT	sort	sort file
TIME	date	display system time
TYPE	cat	output file to stdout
XCOPY	cp	(extended) file copy

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