Batch file for WinRAR

WinRAR has a command line capability - I've not used it, but I know it's there and this should be relatively easy.

A simple example for a batch file that compresses a folder:

--- test.bat
cd c:\mp3
winrar a -s mymusic.rar *.*
---- end of test.bat

This simply moves to a specific folder and adds all it's files to a solid archive named mymusic.rar.

There is a many Commands and Switches you can use. There's a list in the winrar documentation file but you would have to find it. Here is a short list:

Invocation format:
WinRAR  <command> -<switch1> -<switchN> <archive> <files...> <@listfiles...> <path_to_extract\>

Commands:
a      add files to an archive
c      add an archive comment
d      delete files from an archive
e      extract files from an archive, ignoring paths
f      freshen files within an archive
i      find string in archives
k      lock an archive
m      move files and folders to an archive
r      repair a damaged archive
rc      reconstruct missing volumes
rn      rename archived files
rr[N]      add data recovery record
rv[N]      create recovery volumes
s[name]      convert an archive to a self-extracting type
s-      remove SFX module
t      test archive files
u      update files within an archive
x      extract files from an archive with full paths

Switches:
-ac      clear Archive attribute after compression or extraction
-ad      append archive name to destination path
-af<type>      specify archive format
-ag[format]      generate archive name using the current date and time
-ao      add files with Archive attribute set
-ap      set path inside archive
-as      synchronize archive contents
-av      apply authenticity verification
-av-      disable adding authenticity verification
-cfg-      ignore default profile and environment variable
-cl      convert file names to lower case
-cu      convert file names to upper case
-df      delete files after archiving
-dh      open shared files
-ds      do not sort archiving files
-ed      do not add empty folders
-en      do not add "end of archive" block
-ep      exclude paths from names
-ep1      exclude base folder from names
-ep2      expand paths to full
-ep3      expand paths to full including the drive letter
-e<attr>      set file exclude attributes
-f      freshen files
-hp[pwd]      encrypt both file data and headers
-ibck      run WinRAR in background
-ieml      send archive by email
-iicon<name>      specify SFX icon
-ilog[name]      log errors to file
-inul      disable error messages
-ioff      turn PC off
-k      lock archive
-kb      keep broken extracted files
-m<n>      set compression method
-mc<par>      set advanced compression parameters
-md<n>      select dictionary size
-ms      specify file types to store
-oc      set NTFS "Compressed" attribute
-os      save NTFS streams
-ow      process file security information
-o+      overwrite existing files
-o-      do not overwrite existing files
-p[pwd]      set password
-r      recurse subfolders
-r0      recurse subfolders for wildcard names only
-ri      set priority and sleep time
-rr[N]      add data recovery record
-rv[N]      create recovery volumes
-s      create a solid archive
-s<N>      create solid groups using file count
-se      create solid groups using file extension
-sfx[name]      create self-extracting archive
-sv      create independent solid volumes
-sv-      create dependent solid volumes
-s-      disable solid archiving
-t      test files after archiving
-ta<date>      process files modified after the specified date
-tb<date>      process files modified before the specified date
-tk      keep original archive time
-tl      set archive time to newest file
-tn<time>      process files newer than the specified time
-to<time>      process files older than the specified time
-ts<m,c,a>      save or restore file time (modification, creation, access)
-u      update files
-v<n>[k|b|f|m|M|g|G]      create volumes
-vd      erase disk contents before creating volume
-ver      file version control
-vn      use the old style volume naming scheme
-vp      pause before each volume
-x<file>      exclude the specified file
-x@<listfile>      exclude files using a specified list file
-y      assume Yes on all queries
-z<file>      read archive comment from file
--      stop switches scanning


You can find this info with good descriptions in the documentation. Just search for "command line syntax" and do forward.

ok nice work, next problem, how do i get into winrar comand line to put in the commands, i have tried to write the batch file the same as what you have done but it didnt work! could you show me the exact code that i would need to enter into the batch file to make it work.

Thanks

ok i just got it to work but i have a problem, here is my code:

Del c:\backup\*.rar
pause
      set path=C:\program files\winrar\;%path%
      cd C:\backup
      winrar a -s backup.rar *.*
pause
Del C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop\Backups\*.*
pause
Copy c:\backup\backup.rar C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop\backups\
pause

I inserted the pauses so that i could see where it goes wrong, it goes wrong on the last  delete and the copy, it says that it cant find the specified path (C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop\Backups\*.*) can anyone see any mistakes i have made or do you know what im doing wrong?

Regards
Gavin

it also says that the context isnt right for the copy comand aswell.

Change
Del C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop\Backups\*.*
to
Del "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop\Backups\*.*"

and
Copy c:\backup\backup.rar C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop\backups\
to
Copy "c:\backup\backup.rar C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop\backups\"

DOS uses space to seperate parameters. When you have a path with space inside, you have to write it in between quotes.