logging results of a batch file in a .txt file

Fonz-Valo · 10 Mar 2009 at 08:56

Hi all, i hope someone can help me.

I have recently created a batch file to remotely shutdown PCs on a network which so far appears to be working ok.

My question is, is there a way to log the results of the batch file (so i can check what machines shutdown or did not respond) into a .txt or .log file? I'm sure i've done this in the past but i can't recall how i did it....

Anyhelp would be greatly appreciated

randal · 10 Mar 2009 at 09:01

Just stick ">> yourfile.txt" at the end of the command you want to log the output to.

For formatting, use "Echo "" >> yourfile.txt" for a space. For ease you can set a variable at the start of the batch file (LOG="C:\yourfile.txt") and call it with %LOG%.

That should get you started.

Fonz-Valo · 10 Mar 2009 at 09:52

Thanks for that randal24 i'll give it a shot

Fonz-Valo · 10 Mar 2009 at 10:21

right ok i've given that a go and while it does log all "network can not be found" messages it does not tell me the machine names so i don't know which machines are inaccessible.

Do you know of any way to log all the information? Even it means having to log the entire batch process including commands.

I'm feeling a bit slow today i think the Macclesfield air is getting to me so sorry for all of this lol

Thanks

randal · 10 Mar 2009 at 10:38

What commands are you running? Sounds like you might need an "IF" in there to check the status of your shutdowns.

http://www.robvanderwoude.com/if.php

and

http://www.robvanderwoude.com/ntif.php

Also have a read of this to get an understanding of querying error levels to see how the shutdown command exited:

http://www.robvanderwoude.com/errorlevel.php

I presume you're using either "shutdown" or "psshutdown"?

Fonz-Valo · 10 Mar 2009 at 10:56

i'm using "shutdown"

I'll give you a quick example of what i'm using:

@Echo Off

cd\
Echo ========
Echo Test
Echo ========

Pause

set varcomputer=RANDOM1
goto loop
:RANDOM1

set varcomputer=RANDOM2
goto loop
:RANDOM2

Exit

:loop
echo Shutting down %varcomputer%.
shutdown -s -f -m \\%varcomputer% -t 60 -c "TEST SHUTDOWN" >> log.txt
goto %varcomputer%

I don't think i've missed anything there....

randal · 10 Mar 2009 at 11:02

If you're just keeping it simple, just echo the "Shutting down %varcomputer%." line out to your log.txt in the same way as you do the shutdown command.
I'd stick an additional "echo "" >> log.txt"" in after the shutdown command for ease of reading.

Fonz-Valo · 10 Mar 2009 at 11:53

great that does exactly what i want! I can't believe i overlooked something so simple lol

Thanks for all your help

randal · 10 Mar 2009 at 12:25

You're welcome mate, glad you got it doing what you needed.