Check if a file or folder exists

It can be useful in batch files to know whether a file or folder exists. One can use files as semaphores and for inter proces communication (IPC).

I want it to check if it is already installed, if yes, then do nothing and closed the batch file. If no, then continue with the installation / copying files.

I'm trying to write a batch file that checks for two directories and if the directories exists, delete all files and subfolders in both directories.

The only reliable way to test for directory existence is therefore to use the quoted “%dir%-.” notation. To check whether cmd runs in ...

I've written a small batch file to help us with a server migration to remap user directories using GPO. However in the batch file I'm having a ...

Windows 10 batch file - test if directory exists, copy file, beep on error · Open up a command prompt and type IF /? to read the help file. You ...

I would like to be able to check if a certain folder (FolderA) exists and if so, for a message to be displayed and then the batch file to be exited.

Your main problem is that the syntax is IF EXIST filename (that is, no 's'). When file and folder names have spaces, use quote marks.

The simplest answer is if exist mydirname- and the rest as you say. Alternately, you could actually get a test binary and use it on Windows.

A batch file may have to work in all DOS and Windows versions; in that case, the following trick can be used to check for the existence of a folder.