How to execute programs in the same directory as the windows batch file?

I solved this by changing the working directory using pushd at the start of the script and restoring is at the end of the script using popd. This way you can always assume the working directory is the same as the location of the bat file.

pushd %~dp0
ProgramInSameFolderAsBat.exe
popd

Try calling the .exe with %~dp0, like this: %~dp0MyProgram.exe.

%0 contains the full path to the called .bat file.

~dp says to get the drive and path, including trailing \.