Batch Script - Wait 5 seconds before exec program

Question

I have the below script but it does not sleep before executing the software.

Any ideas?

@echo off
SLEEP 10
START "" "C:\Program Files (x86)\..." 

Answer 1

There are (at least) the following options, as others already stated:

1. To use the timeout command:

   rem // Allow a key-press to abort the wait; `/T` can be omitted:
   timeout /T 5
   timeout 5
   rem // Do not allow a key-press to abort the wait:
   timeout /T 5 /NOBREAK
   rem // Suppress the message `Waiting for ? seconds, press a key to continue ...`:
   timeout /T 5 /NOBREAK > nul
   

   Caveats:

   • timeout actually counts second multiples, therefore the wait time is actually something from 4 to 5 seconds. This is particularly annoying and disturbing for short wait times.
   • You cannot use timeout in a block of code whose input is redirected, because it aborts immediately, throwing the error message ERROR: Input redirection is not supported, exiting the process immediately.. Hence timeout /T 5 < nul fails.

2. To use the ping command:

   rem /* The IP address 127.0.0.1 (home) always exists;
   rem    the standard ping interval is 1 second; so you need to do
   rem    one more ping attempt than you want intervals to elapse: */
   ping 127.0.0.1 -n 6 > nul
   

   This is the only reliable way to guarantee the minimum wait time. Redirection is no problem.

Answer 2

Try the timeout command.

timeout /t 10

This shows Waiting for 10 seconds, press a key to continue ...

You can use the /nobreak switch that ignores user input (other than CTRL-C)

timeout /t 30 /nobreak

Or you can redirect its output to NUL for a blank screen that waits 10 seconds and ignores user input:

timeout /t 30 /nobreak > NUL