Appending to the System PATH from batch file?

[Namuna]

Hopefully this is an easy answer...

I want to append a path to the global system path, permanently.

I'm already familiar with using:
SET PATH=c:\whatever\here;%PATH%

But this only seems to set the path while that command window is open, how do I make this change apply to the system permanently?

Thanks!

 

[MrChad]

Control Panel / System / Advanced / Environment Variables

 

[Namuna]

Thanks for the reply, but as stated in the thread title I need to do it from a batch file.

 

[skace]

use "reg update" from batch file to update registry variables. reboot will be required post editing path in registry.

 

[Namuna]

reg update sounds like a plan...But how do you specify a variable in a reg update line?

What I mean is, I don't want to disturb whatever PATH the user already has, only want to append another path.

With the set command you can do the ;%PATH% at the end so it doesn't disturb what's already there...Is the same syntax allowed when doing 'reg update' ?

thanks.

 

[KB]

The command line can't do what you are looking for without some outside utilities.
It might be easier in vbscript if you can use that. Save the following as a .vbs file



Sub AddToSystemPath (strnewPath)
Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

On Error Resume Next

'Read the system path. Exit on errors.
strPath = WshShell.RegRead("HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment\Path")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then Exit Sub
If Instr(strPath, strnewPath) > 0 Then 'if the variable is already in the path then alert
MsgBox "Already in the path"
Else
Dim seperatorchar
If Right(strPath,1) =";" Then
seperatorchar = ""
Else
seperatorchar = ";"
End if
strPath = strPath & seperatorchar & strNewPath

WshShell.RegWrite "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment\Path", strPath, "REG_EXPAND_SZ"
If Err.Number = 0 Then
WScript.Echo "System path updated to:" & vbCrLf & strPath
Else
WScript.Echo "Path not updated - no updates necessary."
End If
End if
End Sub

'call to add the path to the system path
AddToSystemPath "C:\Temp"

 

[Namuna]

KB!!!

THANK YOU!!!

 

[skace]

Just figured I'd answer your question for the hell of it, even though KB has given another method. Yes %path% can be used anywhere on the dos level, which means from echo, a for command, or even reg update.

in windows XP this would be the proper command format:

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment" /v Path /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "c:\whatever\here;%path%" /f