How to do something to each file in a directory with a batch script

Use

for /r path %%var in (*.*) do some_command %%var

with:

• path being the starting path.
• %%var being some identifier.
• *.* being a filemask OR the contents of a variable.
• some_command being the command to execute with the path and var concatenated as parameters.

Easiest method:

From Command Line, use:

for %f in (*.*) do echo %f

From a Batch File (double up the % percent signs):

for %%f in (*.*) do echo %%f

From a Batch File with folder specified as 1st parameter:

for %%f in (%1\*.*) do echo %%f

Command line usage:

for /f %f in ('dir /b c:\') do echo %f

Batch file usage:

for /f %%f in ('dir /b c:\') do echo %%f

Update: if the directory contains files with space in the names, you need to change the delimiter the for /f command is using. for example, you can use the pipe char.

for /f "delims=|" %%f in ('dir /b c:\') do echo %%f

Update 2: (quick one year and a half after the original answer :-)) If the directory name itself has a space in the name, you can use the usebackq option on the for:

for /f "usebackq delims=|" %%f in (`dir /b "c:\program files"`) do echo %%f

And if you need to use output redirection or command piping, use the escape char (^):

for /f "usebackq delims=|" %%f in (`dir /b "c:\program files" ^| findstr /i microsoft`) do echo %%f

Alternatively, use:

forfiles /s /m *.png /c "cmd /c echo @path"

The forfiles command is available in Windows Vista and up.