CALL Command

Besides [[START Command|START]] there is also a command called CALL which is used to execute another Batch file.

START vs CALL

The main difference between CALL and START is that CALL will execute the Batch file in the same shell, while START will execute the Batch file in a new shell. This also means that the calling Batch file will wait for the called Batch file to finish before continuing its execution.

A way to think about it is that CALL is like a function call, while START is like a new process.

In fact, CALL can be used to call labels in the same Batch file like GOTO, while START can only be used to call other Batch files.

The way to make START work almost like CALL is to use /w /b switches, which will make START execute the Batch file in the same shell and wait for it to finish before continuing the execution of the calling Batch file.

See also: Microsoft, SS64 Docs for CALL command [1]: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/call [2]: https://ss64.com/nt/call.html