Exiting batch with `EXIT /B X` where X>=1 acts as if command completed successfully when using && or || operators between batch calls

I'm trying to chain a series of .bat files using the EXIT /B X command to return success or failure and && and || for conditional running of the next .bat (e.g. a.bat && b.bat).

Regardless of whether I call EXIT /B 0 or anything else to end a.bat, a.bat && b.bat will call b.bat afterward. My understanding is that EXIT /B 0 should set ERRORLEVEL=0, which is success, so the && should continue. The counterpoint to this is that calling EXIT /B 1 should set ERRORLEVEL=1 which is failure, so the && should stop. What am I missing here?

Trivialized example:

For non-batch commands, acting as expected

C:\>echo test|findstr test>NUL && echo yes
yes

C:\>echo test|findstr test>NUL || echo yes

C:\>echo test|findstr nope>NUL && echo yes

C:\>echo test|findstr nope>NUL || echo yes
yes

C:\>

Using EXIT /B always sees a.bat as successful

C:\>echo @EXIT /B 0 > a.bat

C:\>a.bat && echo yes
yes

C:\>a.bat || echo yes

C:\>echo @EXIT /B 1 > a.bat

C:\>a.bat && echo yes
yes

C:\>a.bat || echo yes

C:\>

How can I exit from a.bat so that a.bat && b.bat and a.bat || b.bat behave as expected?

All commands are run in cmd.exe on Windows XP SP3.

This question and answers originated from www.stackoverflow.com
Question by (1/8/2011 7:24:34 AM)

Answer

If you ask me, exit codes in batch files are broken for this exact reason, but there is a hacky workaround you can use. As the last line of your batch file, use:

@%COMSPEC% /C exit 1 >nul

Since this is an actual process that is started you get a real process exit code and && and || will work.

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Related Topics  batch  batch-file  dos  exit  errorlevel
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