Changes the position of batch parameters in a batch file.

Syntax

shift [/n <N>]

Parameters

Remarks

• Theshift command changes the values of the batch parameters%0 through%9 by copying each parameter into the previous one—the value of%1 is copied to%0, the value of%2 is copied to%1, and so on. This is useful for writing a batch file that performs the same operation on any number of parameters.

• If command extensions are enabled, theshift command supports the/n command-line option. The/n option specifies to start shifting at the Nth argument, whereN is any value from 0 to 8. For example,SHIFT /2 would shift%3 to%2,%4 to%3, and so on, and leave%0 and%1 unaffected. Command extensions are enabled by default.

• You can use theshift command to create a batch file that can accept more than 10 batch parameters. If you specify more than 10 parameters on the command line, those that appear after the tenth (%9) will be shifted one at a time into%9.

• Theshift command has no effect on the%* batch parameter.

• There's no backwardshift command. After you implement theshift command, you can't recover the batch parameter (%0) that existed before the shift.

Examples

To use a batch file, calledMycopy.bat, to copy a list of files to a specific directory, type:

@echo offrem MYCOPY.BAT copies any number of filesrem to a directory.rem The command uses the following syntax:rem mycopy dir file1 file2 ...set todir=%1:getfileshiftif "%1"=="" goto endcopy %1 %todir%goto getfile:endset todir=echo All done

Related links

• Command-Line Syntax Key