Windows shell script directory

If you have worked with Linux distributions and repositories, you would know what shell scripts are. To run shell scripts on top of a Windows computer can be challenging, as the process is not quite straightforward.

Shell scripts are a piece of code written in plain text but have the “.SH” file extension. These are usually used to automate tasks and execute Linux or Unix packages. These are written in Bash and start with “#! /bin/sh“.

You do not need to install a Linux or Unix distribution alongside your Windows operating system to run a shell script. In this article, we’ll show you how to run a shell script on a Windows PC.

What are Shell (.SH) Files

The Linux/Unix operating system uses shell or .SH script files to perform certain tasks. In comparison, it can be substituted by Windows batch files for the Windows operating systems, which are used to execute commands on a computer.

The Batch language is a simple and interpreted programming language, unlike C++ or C#. However, you do not have to translate a shell script file to batch to perform similar tasks on a Windows computer, as you do on a Linux PC.

There are different methods to run the same .SH file on a Windows computer as on a Linux system. Let us show you how to run a shell file on a Windows PC.

Run Shell Script (.SH) File on Windows

There are both native and third-party methods to run shell files on a Windows computer. You can use Cygwin, or a third-party tool of your choice, to run a shell script on Windows OS. Alternatively, you can install the Windows Subsystem for Linux feature on Windows and then execute the shell script file through it.

Below you’ll find the methods to run the file using both methods.

Run Shell Script File using Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

This section has been divided into 3 steps to make the process easier to understand. You must do the following 3 things to run a shell script file in the given order:

1. Install WSL
2. Install a Linux distro
3. Run the shell script file

Note: If you are performing these steps on a Virtual Machine, then you will need to enable Nested Virtualization.

Install WSL

Use the following steps to install WSL on your computer:

1. Press the Windows Key + R shortcut keys to open the Run Command box.

2. Type in “optionalfeatures” and press Enter.

3. Select “Windows Subsystem for Linux” and “Virtual Machine Platform,” and then click Ok.

   

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   The wizard will now install WSL.

4. When the installation is completed, click “Restart now.”

   

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Once the computer restarts, it is time to install a Linux distro.

Install a Linux Distribution

Use the following steps to install a Linux distribution:

1. When it restarts, press Windows Key + R again to open Run.

2. Type in “cmd” and press CTRL + Shift + Enter to run Command Prompt as administrator.

3. Run the following command to obtain a list of available Linux distros:

   wsl --list --online

   

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   Note down the name of the distro you want to install.

4. Use the following command to install the preferred distro while substituting its name:

   wsl --install -d [DistributionName]

   

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   The distro will now begin to download and install.

5. Set up a username and password.

   

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6. Restart the computer.

Now, the next step is to simply run the shell script file.

Run the Shell Script File

Follow the simple steps below to run the shell script file on a Windows PC:

1. Press the Windows Key + R again to open Run.

2. Type in “cmd” and press CTRL + Shift + Enter to run Command Prompt as administrator.

3. Use the CD cmdlet to change the directory to the location of the shell script file.

   CD [PathToShellScriptFile]

   

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4. Now, use the following command to run the shell script file while substituting [ShellFileName] with the complete and correct name of the shell file:

   Bash [ShellFileName].sh

   

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This is how you run a shell script (.SH) file on a Windows computer using WSL.

If this seems like a lengthy process for you, then you can also use the alternative method given below.

Run Shell Script File using Third-Party Tools

You can also run a shell script file on a Windows computer using a third-party tool. In the steps below, we have used Cygwin.

Follow these steps to run a .SH file on a Windows PC:

1. First, download and install Cygwin from their official website.

2. Once installed, run the Cygwin app.

3. In the Cygwin terminal, use the CD command to change the directory to the shell script file location.

   Note: In Cygwin, the syntax to change the directory is different from Command Prompt or PowerShell. Use the following command syntax and example in the image to change your directory in Cygwin.

   CD /cygdrive/[driveLetter]/[Subfolder1]/[Subfolder2]

   

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4. Now, make the shell script file executable through this command:

   chmod +x [ShellFileName].sh

   

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5. Now, use the following syntax to run the shell script file:

   ./[ShellFileName].sh

   

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These are the two methods to run shell script files (.SH) on a Windows PC. Of course, there are many other third-party tools available that allow you to run Linux and Unix files on a Windows computer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

In the modern days of CI/CD automation scripts, obtaining the absolute path of a shell script is the base for any useful script in a coding repository. Whether you want to automate filesystem operations, download content to a certain location, or write build scripts, you will need to get the location of your main directory in your scripts.

For this reason, we’ll look at different ways to get the absolute path of a script with a shell command. In addition, the methods we introduce in this post should be fairly portable between shell environments (bash, zsh, etc).

If you’ve just started out writing shell scripts, you may find it useful to read my post about the most useful terminal commands for beginners!

Video – How To Get The Path Of A Shell Script While Writing A Utility Script (Unzipping)

If you’re a visual learner, the video below shows you the best way to get a script path. Feel free to read the remaining sections for the same content in writen form!

Two Different Ways To Get The Path Of A Script: $0 Vs $BASH_SOURCE

Long story short, we rely on two different shell variables that contain (the relative) path of the script being executed.

Firstly, we will look at the variable $0, which should contain the path of the script being executed. Unsurprisingly, this is probably the most popular option out there, as it’s very simple to use and it’s fairly well defined in non-bash shells.

Similarly, we also look at the ${BASH_SOURCE[i]} variable (array), which in bash-derived shells, contains information about the definitions of call stack functions. More specifically. ${BASH_SOURCE[0]}, or simply $BASH_SOURCE, should contain the filename of the called script.

In short, if you’re using a bash-like shell, the preferred way to get the relative path to the current script is by using $BASH_SOURCE. However, if your system does not have a bash-like shell, use $0. If you’re wondering why, take a look at the top answers on this slack overflow question: $BASH_SOURCE vs $0.

Hence, I highly recommend using the following line to get the relative path to the current script:

SCRIPT_PATH="${BASH_SOURCE:-$0}"

Needless to say, the line above attempts to access the value of $BASH_SOURCE , and if that is defined in your shell, it will store it in $SCRIPT_PATH. However, if $BASH_SOURCE isn’t defined, $SCRIPT_PATH will contain the value of $0 instead.

Considering the example in the previous section, the variable $SCRIPT_PATH contains the relative path of the current script. Essentially, we will use that variable with the realpath and dirname commands to get the absolute path of our script! The perfect way to get the absolute path and directory to a script is shown in the script box below.

SCRIPT_PATH="${BASH_SOURCE:-$0}"
echo "Value of SCRIPT_PATH: ${SCRIPT_PATH}"

ABS_SCRIPT_PATH="$(realpath "${SCRIPT_PATH}")"
echo "Value of ABS_SCRIPT_PATH: ${ABS_SCRIPT_PATH}"

ABS_DIRECTORY="$(dirname "${ABS_SCRIPT_PATH}")"
echo "Value of ABS_DIRECTORY: ${ABS_DIRECTORY}"

Furthermore, when I saved the above block to the file script_dir.sh in my home directory, and executed it with the following commands:

# make the script executable
chmod +x /home/matheus/script_dir.sh

./home/matheus/script_dir.sh

I got the following output.

$ ./script_dir.sh
Value of SCRIPT_PATH: ./script_dir.sh
Value of ABS_SCRIPT_PATH: /home/matheus/script_dir.sh
Value of ABS_DIRECTORY: /home/matheus

And voilà! You can now use the above lines in your tooling scripts.

Have I missed anything? Do you have any feedback or questions? Have you noticed a mistake/typo? Feel free to comment below and I’ll answer ASAP! Thanks for reading.

Some shell scripts must run in a specific working directory. To achieve this, you can add a cd command to the working directory before executing the shell script.

The default working folder ($SCHEDULER_DATA) is the one containing the ‘config’, ‘jobs’, etc. folders, so on a Win-7 installation with default settings, this is:

  C:\ProgramData\sos-berlin.com\jobscheduler\scheduler-id\

where ‘scheduler-id’ is the ID of the JobScheduler.

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 <job  task="5" stop_on_error="no" order="yes" warn_if_longer_than="30:00" name="job1">
    <script  language="shell">
        <![CDATA[
 cd c:\temp
 c:\script\myscript.cmd
         ]]>
    </script>
 </job>

It is also possible to configure this as an extra file with just the cd command and add this file to the script with an include. This is helpful when you attempt to move a job from test to production without changing the configuration but with another working directory on the production site.

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<job  tasks="5" stop_on_error="no" order="yes" warn_if_longer_than="30:00" name="job1">
   <script  language="shell">
       <include  live_file="set_working_direcory.cmd"/>
       <![CDATA[
c:\script\myscript.cmd
       ]]>
   </script>
</job>

see also:

• FAQ — Scripting

In the evolving technological landscape, navigating different operating systems and their unique functionalities is an essential skill. A prominent instance is the requirement to run .sh or shell script files on Windows 10. The demand to handle such tasks typically arises for developers, system administrators, or tech enthusiasts who work across different platforms or those who frequently interact with Unix-based environments such as Linux. 

Unlike Unix-based systems, Windows does not inherently offer support for these .sh files. Despite this, there are efficient methods to bridge this gap and run shell scripts successfully on Windows 10. 

This article serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding and implementing these methods, simplifying the otherwise daunting task. We shall guide you through a sequence of procedures and tools that enable you to run .sh files, bridging the gap between Windows and Unix-based systems.

So, let’s dive in, simplify the technicalities, and take one step further in mastering cross-platform operations.

What are Shell Scripts?

Shell scripts, denoted by the .sh extension, are a series of commands written in plain text file format. They’re essentially a batch job that instructs the system on what tasks to perform. You might be asking, “Why do we use them?” Let’s discuss this next.

Role and Importance of Shell Scripts

Shell scripts automate repetitive tasks, thereby diminishing the chances of errors and conserving precious time. They play an integral role in software development and system administration. Intrigued? Let’s delve into the basics of running a shell script.

Method 1: Using Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is an environment within Windows 10 that allows running native Linux command-line tools directly on Windows without requiring dual-boot or virtualization. It serves as a compatibility layer for running Linux binaries natively on Windows 10 and hence, is a powerful tool for executing shell scripts.

To install WSL, follow these steps:

1. Enable the WSL feature: Open the “Turn Windows features on or off” dialog box, which you can access via the Control Panel or by typing the phrase into the Windows search bar. 

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In this dialog, scroll down and check the option titled “Windows Subsystem for Linux.” Once you click “OK,” Windows will prompt you to restart your computer in order to implement the changes.

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1. Download a Linux distribution: Once you’ve enabled WSL and rebooted your system, the next step is to download a Linux distribution from the Microsoft Store. Some of the popular distributions include Ubuntu, Debian, and openSUSE. Once the download and installation process has concluded, you will find yourself equipped with a fully operational Linux environment integrated within your Windows system.

After successfully installing WSL and a Linux distribution, you can run shell scripts as follows:

1. Open the WSL: Start by launching the WSL. You can do this by typing the name of your installed Linux distribution into the Windows search bar and pressing Enter.
2. Navigate to the script’s directory: In the Linux command line, navigate to the directory containing your shell script file using the ‘cd’ (Change Directory) command. As an illustration, if your script resides in the Documents directory, you should input ‘cd Documents’ and then hit the Enter key.
3. Execute the script: Finally, you can run your shell script by typing ‘sh’ followed by the name of your script. For instance, if your script is named ‘myscript.sh’, you would type ‘sh myscript.sh’ and press Enter.

Method 2: Using a GUI Method

Apart from the above method, you can also execute shell scripts in a graphical user interface (GUI) setting, particularly when using a Linux distribution or WSL with a desktop environment. This method provides a more intuitive way of running shell scripts for those who prefer graphical over command-line interfaces.

Here’s how to execute a shell script using this method:

1. Access file properties: Start by right-clicking on the .sh file you want to run. Upon right-clicking and accessing the context menu, opt for the “Properties” choice. This will initiate the opening of a fresh window showcasing a range of attributes linked to the file.
2. Navigate to permissions: Within the file properties window, you will encounter multiple tabs. Proceed to click on the tab marked as “Permissions.” This tab grants you the capability to adjust various permissions related to access and execution for the file.
3. Modify execution permissions: Look for a checkbox labeled “Allow executing file as a program” under the “Execute” section. Check this box to grant your file the necessary permissions to run as a script.
4. Apply changes: After making the necessary permission modifications, save the changes by selecting the “Apply” button. Following that, click on the “OK” button to close the properties window. At this point, your shell script possesses the required permissions for execution.
5. Run the script: Finally, run the script by double-clicking on the .sh file. If the system prompts you to choose between “Run in Terminal,” “Display,” “Cancel,” or “Run,” select “Run in Terminal” for command-line scripts.

By following these steps, you can execute shell scripts using the GUI method. While this approach might not be suited for all scenarios, it does provide a more visual way of handling shell scripts, especially for users less comfortable with command-line interfaces.

Conclusion

Executing shell scripts in a Windows environment might initially seem like a complex task, given the fundamentally different architectures of Windows and Unix-like systems. However, with the right tools and methods at your disposal, you can run .sh or shell script files on Windows 10 effectively and efficiently. 

Throughout this guide, we’ve explored multiple ways to achieve this, ranging from using Git Bash, the powerful Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), to utilizing a graphical user interface.