Use call when one Windows .bat or .cmd file must run another and the parent script must continue afterward:
call child.batFor a script stored beside the parent, the more reliable form is:
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call "%~dp0child.bat"call creates a nested batch-file context, waits for the child to finish, and returns control to the next command in the parent. See Microsoft’s call documentation.
A complete parent-and-child example
Create parent.bat:
@echo off
call "%~dp0child.bat" "Hello from the parent"
set "rc=%errorlevel%"
if not "%rc%"=="0" (
echo Child script failed with exit code %rc%.
exit /b %rc%
)
echo Child script completed successfully.Create child.bat in the same directory:
@echo off
echo Child received: %~1
exit /b 0The child prints its argument, returns status code 0, and the parent then continues with its success message.
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Basic syntax
call [drive:][path]filename [arguments]The target should be a batch file with a .bat or .cmd extension:
call child.bat
call child.cmd
call "C:Program FilesMy Scriptschild.bat"
call "%~dp0child.bat" one two
call "%~dp0child.bat" "value containing spaces"Why not simply write the child filename?
This can transfer batch processing to the other file instead of giving the parent a normal return point:
child.bat
echo This may not run as expectedUse call when the parent must resume:
call child.bat
echo This runs after child.bat returnsThe child returns when it reaches the end of its batch context or uses exit /b.
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Pass arguments to the child
Parent:
call "%~dp0child.bat" Alice 25 "New York"Child:
@echo off
echo Name: %~1
echo Age: %~2
echo City: %~3Output:
Name: Alice
Age: 25
City: New YorkCommon batch parameters include:
%0: the name used to invoke the script%1through%9: positional arguments%*: all arguments%~1: the first argument without surrounding quotes%~f1: the fully qualified path of the first argument%~dp1: the drive and path of the first argument
These parameter modifiers are documented in Microsoft’s batch parameter reference.
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Call a script in the parent’s directory
%~dp0 expands to the drive and path portion of the current batch parameter—normally the parent script’s location. It avoids depending on the current working directory, which may differ when the script is started by Task Scheduler, an IDE, or another program.
call "%~dp0libbackup.cmd"For this layout:
project
parent.bat
lib
backup.cmdcall backup.cmd searches relative to the current working directory. call "%~dp0libbackup.cmd" locates the file relative to parent.bat.
Quote paths containing spaces
Quote both the batch-file path and arguments containing spaces:
call "C:My Scriptschild.bat" "C:Input Filesdata.txt"Inside the child, a safe assignment is:
set "input=%~1"
type "%input%"Quoting handles ordinary spaces, but cmd.exe also gives special meaning to characters such as &, <, >, |, ^, parentheses, and !. Arbitrary strings may require additional escaping. See Microsoft’s cmd.exe syntax documentation.
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Return success or failure
Have the child return an explicit code:
@echo off
if not exist "%~1" (
echo Input file not found: %~1
exit /b 2
)
echo Processing "%~1"
exit /b 0Capture the result immediately after call:
@echo off
call "%~dp0child.bat" "C:datainput.txt"
set "rc=%errorlevel%"
if not "%rc%"=="0" (
echo Child failed with code %rc%.
exit /b %rc%
)
echo Child succeeded.exit /b N exits only the current batch script and sets ERRORLEVEL. Microsoft documents this in the exit command reference.
For threshold-based checks:
if errorlevel 1 echo The child reported an error.if errorlevel 1 is true for 1 or any greater value; it is not an exact equality test. For exact comparisons, capture the value and compare it as a string:
if "%rc%"=="2" echo The input file was missing.Call a label in the same batch file
call can invoke a subroutine label in the current file:
@echo off
call :sayHello Alice
echo Back in the main script.
exit /b 0
:sayHello
echo Hello, %~1
exit /b 0Use exit /b or goto :eof at the end of the subroutine so execution does not fall through into later code:
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call :deploy
exit /b
:deploy
echo Deploying...
goto :eofcall :label is different from calling a label in another file. For a separate file, call the file itself. Label targets require command extensions; Microsoft documents both forms on the call page and documents goto :eof here.
call vs. cmd /c vs. start /wait
| Method | Returns to parent? | Separate process? | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
call child.bat |
Yes | No separate application process; a nested batch context | Normal synchronous batch-to-batch calls |
call :label |
Yes | No | Same-file subroutines |
cmd /c ... |
The new cmd.exe exits |
Yes, a new command interpreter | Deliberate command-shell isolation |
start /wait ... |
After the started process finishes | Yes | Applications or separate processes |
cmd /c is usually unnecessary for an ordinary batch-to-batch call and adds another parsing layer:
cmd /c call "%~dp0child.bat"Use start /wait mainly for programs such as executables:
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Important edge cases
Prevent environment changes from leaking back
A called child normally shares the caller’s command environment. Its set, cd, and path commands can affect later parent commands. Use setlocal when those changes should be temporary:
@echo off
setlocal
set "TEMP_SETTING=value"
cd /d "C:Temporary Directory"
rem Work performed with local settings.
endlocal
exit /b 0setlocal protects the parent environment, but variables created inside the localized scope do not remain available afterward unless you return them through a file, status code, or another mechanism. See Microsoft’s setlocal documentation.
Be careful with pipes and redirection
Microsoft cautions against using pipes or redirection symbols directly with call. Avoid constructions involving |, <, and > unless you understand their cmd.exe parsing behavior and have tested the quoting.
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@echo off
call "%~f0"This calls the current file again indefinitely unless an explicit termination condition is provided. Circular calls between multiple batch files can cause the same problem.
Delayed expansion
Variables inside parenthesized blocks may require delayed expansion:
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
set "value=before"
(
set "value=after"
echo !value!
)
endlocalsetlocal enabledelayedexpansion enables !variable! expansion until the matching endlocal or the end of the batch file. Be especially cautious with exclamation marks in input values.
Troubleshooting checklist
- Parent does not resume: replace a bare
child.batinvocation withcall child.bat. - File is not found: use
call "%~dp0child.bat"and verify the filename and extension. - Spaces break the command: quote the target path and each affected argument.
- Exit code is wrong: capture
%errorlevel%immediately aftercall; ensure the child usesexit /b. - Exact status check fails: remember that
if errorlevel Nmeans N or greater. - Label cannot be found: check spelling, command extensions, and whether the label is actually in the current file.
- Parent directory changes unexpectedly: add
setlocalto the child.
Quick reference
call "%~dp0child.bat" "argument"
set "rc=%errorlevel%"
if not "%rc%"=="0" exit /b %rc%This guidance applies to Windows cmd.exe batch files, including .bat and .cmd. It is not Bash, PowerShell, or Unix-shell syntax. Microsoft lists these commands for current Windows and Windows Server documentation, including Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server releases.
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