Show Current Working Folder or Directory Full Path in Batch Command Script
When executing a batch command script (in .cmd or .bat file extension), sometimes it’s useful to get to know the current working directory of the batch script. Knowing the current directory or working folder in batch command is useful to ensure that the script is calling command or program at correct path, or manipulation of file and folder is done at valid destination when using relative path. Another important usage is to capture and save the current directory for later use, and the script may change the path during its course.
In fact, the showing and displaying of current directory is easy with the use of pseudo-variable for cmd.exe environment variables. From Windows 2000 onwards, Microsoft Windows has added %CD% pseudo-variable that expands to the current working directory.
For example, to display current working directory, just use the following command:
Echo %CD%
To save and store the current directory where a file is located for later use after change directory (cd) to other folder to perform other operations, use the following commands:
Set CURRENTDIR=%CD%
The %CURRENTDIR% variable to store the current working directory, which can be used in later batch commands, which as changing back to this previous directory.
In Windows 9x, the %CD% pseudo-variable is not existed. To get the current directory, use the following trick:
CD | Time | Find ":\" > Temp1.Bat
Echo Set CD=%%4 %%5 %%6 %%7 %%8 %%9 > Enter.Bat
Call Temp1.Bat
Del Temp1.Bat
Del Enter.Bat
The end result is a variable %CD% been returned to the batch processing session which contains the current working directory.
Related Articles
- Reveal and Access to Windows Vista Hidden Context-Sensitive (Right Click) Menu Item – Open Command Prompt Here & Copy as Path
- List of Windows and DOS Command Prompt Environment Variables
- Script to Backup Current Start State (Startup Type) of Windows Services
- How to Change Windows Explorer Default Folder
- Open Elevated Command Prompt Window Here as Administrator at Current Folder Directly in Vista Windows Explorer
- Easier Way to Take Ownership and Grant Access Files or Directories in Vista
- Add Open Command Window Here to XP Folder with PowerToy
- Find Files that are Modified Today (or Since Certain Time Ago) in Unix
- Automatically Expand Navigation Pane Tree to Current Folder in Windows 7
- How to Check and Verify SHA1 and MD5 with File Checksum Integrity Verifier (KB841290 FCIV)









































