How do I minimize the command prompt from my bat file

There is a quite interesting way to execute script minimized by making him restart itself minimised. Here is the code to put in the beginning of your script:

if not DEFINED IS_MINIMIZED set IS_MINIMIZED=1 && start "" /min "%~dpnx0" %* && exit... script logic here ...exit

How it works

When the script is being executed IS_MINIMIZED is not defined (if not DEFINED IS_MINIMIZED) so:

1. IS_MINIMIZED is set to 1: set IS_MINIMIZED=1.

2. Script starts a copy of itself using start command && start "" /min "%~dpnx0" %* where:

   1. "" - empty title for the window.
   2. /min - switch to run minimized.
   3. "%~dpnx0" - full path to your script.
   4. %* - passing through all your script's parameters.

3. Then initial script finishes its work: && exit.

For the started copy of the script variable IS_MINIMIZED is set by the original script so it just skips the execution of the first line and goes directly to the script logic.

Remarks

• You have to reserve some variable name to use it as a flag.
• The script should be ended with exit, otherwise the cmd window wouldn't be closed after the script execution.

• If your script doesn't accept arguments you could use argument as a flag instead of variable:

  if "%1" == "" start "" /min "%~dpnx0" MY_FLAG && exitor shorterif "%1" == "" start "" /min "%~f0" MY_FLAG && exit

Use the start command, with the /min switch to run minimized. For example:

start /min C:\Ruby192\bin\setrbvars.bat

Since you've specified a batch file as the argument, the command processor is run, passing the /k switch. This means that the window will remain on screen after the command has finished. You can alter that behavior by explicitly running cmd.exe yourself and passing the appropriate switches if necessary.

Alternatively, you can create a shortcut to the batch file (are PIF files still around), and then alter its properties so that it starts minimized.

The only way I know is by creating a Windows shortcut to the batch file and then changing its properties to run minimized by default.