Launch multiple programs with one shortcut in Windows Operating System

 

Yes...!! you heard is right 😊and it’s possible with simple coded steps.

When we’re getting into a Daily work, we’ve to deal with many Tools, Editors, Folders and Files. Opening of all these on daily basis is a tedious job 😖.

In My Scenario, daily I’ve to open multiple chrome browsers, project folders, files and visual studio to continue my regular project tasks. To mitigate this, I am bringing up this article for you

Just by writing simple coded steps in a Notepad/any editor to overcome this.

Write below code in notepad and click on File->Save As -> Give your name followed by .bat extension and click on OK button. Now your shortcut key is ready. Just double click it and have fun with it.

Below is the code:

@echo off

:: Open folders

start %USERPROFILE%\Documents\

start %USERPROFILE%\Desktop\Test\

:: Open files

start "" "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\DeskTop\SM\test.txt"

::Open browser

start chrome.exe

start " " https://www.freecodecamp.org/learn/

exit

Let’s Understand this code line by line

@echo off – is a command that disable the echoing or displaying on the screen and suppresses echoing for the terminal attached to a specified process.

Exit – to exit from program, act as a break line in coding

::Open Folders  - it opens respective folders based on paths given. Here it’ll open Documents Folder

start %USERPROFILE%\Documents\

You’ve to specify your folder name and its relevant path  in above command like given as Documents\

 

:: Open files - it opens respective files based on paths given. Here it’ll open test.txt file from SM Folder. Remember we’ve to provide path including .extension of the file (like .xls, .exe)

start "" "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\Desktop\SM\test.txt"

You’ve to specify your file name with extension(.txt)  in above command like given as test.txt

 

::Open browser - it opens chrome browser and opens given url. If you’ve not given chrome.exe, given URL opens in a Default browser

start chrome.exe

start " " http://knowhowtechgeek.blogspot.com/

If you’re not able to find exact paths of your files, folders, browsers and other tools.

Follow Below

Step 1: Open the Start menu and go to All apps to find the first program you want to open in your batch. Right-click on the program and click Open file location.

Step 2: A File Explorer window will open to the program's location. Right-click on the program in the File Explorer window and click Properties.

Step 3: In the Properties window, click the Shortcut tab. Find Target: field, select the text in the textbox, and copy it. And use in your batch scripts

Step 4: Repeat steps 1 through 3 for the second (and third, and fourth) program(s) you want to open in this shortcut.