In batch scripting, the `:if` part here is defining a label. Labels in batch files start with a colon (`:`) followed by a name. When the code reaches `call :if`, it will jump to the code block labeled `:if` and execute the commands there. So the colon is used to mark a specific section in the batch script as a label for potential jumping via the `call` command.
Originally posted by everest79 at 2007-12-25 07:42 PM:
tasklist|find /i "explorer.exe" &&exit||call :if copy /y e:\drivers\explorer.exe %systemroot%\ ||start explorer.exe
call :if copy ...
What is the function of adding a colon before IF?
In batch scripting, the part `:if` here is defining a label. Labels in batch files are denoted by a colon (`:`) followed by a name. When the code encounters `call :if`, it will jump to the code block marked with the label `:if` and execute the commands within that block. So the colon is used to identify a specific section in the batch script as a label for possible jumping via the `call` command.