How can I set a shorcut key in VS code to run a .bat file in my working directory?

Question

In my research I work with the finite element method, we use the solver from Abaqus which uses subroutines made with Fortran and I use vs code to edit them. So to run my codes I made a batch file that makes this process simpler (to avoid typing many instructions in the cmd).

In this image you can see the files in my working directory, it would save me a lot of time if I could set a shortcut to execute the principal.bat file and another one to terminate.bat directly from vs code: batch files I appreciate any help, I've tried to set a task.json file for this purpose, but I am a little lost.

rioV8 · Accepted Answer · 2020-10-20T12:51:09.030

You can use the extension multi-command to type the batch file command to the terminal

Add this to your settings.json:

  "multiCommand.commands": [
    {
      "command": "multiCommand.callPrincipal",
      "sequence": [
        { "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",
          "args": { "text": "principle.bat\u000D" }
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "command": "multiCommand.callTerminate",
      "sequence": [
        { "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",
          "args": { "text": "terminate.bat\u000D" }
        }
      ]
    }
  ]

And then define 2 keybindings in keybindings.json

  {
    "key": "shift+alt+F1",  // or any other key combo
    "command": "multiCommand.callPrincipal"
  },
  {
    "key": "shift+alt+F2",  // or any other key combo
    "command": "multiCommand.callTerminate"
  }

You can add when clauses to limit the validity of the keybinding

Edit

It is not needed to use the multi-command extension when you only want 1 terminal command, you can define the argument to the keybinding

  {
    "key": "shift+alt+F1",  // or any other key combo
    "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",
    "args": { "text": "principle.bat\u000D" }
  },
  {
    "key": "shift+alt+F2",  // or any other key combo
    "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",
    "args": { "text": "terminate.bat\u000D" }
  }

Or you can define 2 tasks to start the batch files and run them with Terminal | Run Task....

If you designate one as the build task you can use the shortcut key for that.

I can't find a command that runs a named task, so it can be used in a keybinding.

Thanks. Does this work if I need to run a shell file under a linux system? i.e., can I just say `./principle.sh\u000D` — Tryer, Oct 20 '20 at 12:52
@Tryer Yes, whatever the terminal accepts you can put in the `text` argument — rioV8, Oct 20 '20 at 13:52
Thank you rioV8! I set 2 tasks with this two args for each command: "text": "cd \"${fileDirname}\"\u000D" and "text": "abaqus job=analisis user=2D.for\u000D" — DiegoQuex, Oct 27 '20 at 22:14
@DiegoQuex if this solves your question you can mark it as the answer — rioV8, Oct 28 '20 at 00:30

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 20 '20 at 08:09

You could add a debug configuration, then use F5 to start that config.
The type cppvsdbg is unimportant here, as you can't (and don't want to) debug your batch file.

Shift-F5 kills the batch process

launch.json

{
    "version": "0.2.0",
    "configurations": [
        {
            "name": "Start batch",
            "type": "cppvsdbg",
            "request": "launch",
            "program": "cmd.exe",
            "args": [
                "/c",
                "principal.bat"
            ],
            "stopAtEntry": false,
            "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
            "environment": [],
            "externalConsole": false
        }
    ]
}

How can I set a shorcut key in VS code to run a .bat file in my working directory?

2 Answers2