How to test if a path is a file or directory in Windows batch file?

Question

I searched here, found someone using this

set is_dir=0
for %%i in (\"%~1\") do if exist \"%%~si\"\\nul set is_dir=1

but didn\'t work, when

Answer 1

Previously, I used the "\nul" method, but for a long time now, I have used "\*" to test if an existing filespec is a folder or a file. As far as I know, it works on all versions of Windows, from Windows 95 (and perhaps earlier versions) through all current Windows versions.

So, as with other methods, first test if the file exists. Then, to see if it's a "Folder", test it with: if exist "%fspec%\*":

if not exist "%fspec%"   goto :NotExistOrInvalid

rem "%fspec%" is "Valid" and is either a "Folder", or a "File".
if     exist "%fspec%\*" goto :IsValidAndIsAFolder

rem "%fspec%" is a "File" (a "Regular File" or a Shortcut/Link).
goto :IsValidAndIsAFile

For example:

set "fspec=XYZ:%perlpath%"
if not exist "%fspec%" echo "%fspec%": Invalid or not found && rem Invalid, goto :NotExistOrInvalid

set "fspec=%perlpath%"
if not exist "%fspec%" echo "%fspec%": Invalid or not found && rem goto :NotExistOrInvalid

rem "%fspec%" Is a "Valid" filespec and is either a "Folder", or a "File".
if exist "%fspec%\*" (echo "%fspec%" is a "Folder".) else echo "%fspec%" is a "File".

set "fspec=%perlpath%\perl.exe"
if not exist "%fspec%" echo "%fspec%": Invalid or not found && rem Invalid, goto :NotExistOrInvalid

rem "%fspec%" Is a "Valid" filespec and is either a "Folder", or a "File".
if exist "%fspec%\*" (echo "%fspec%" is a "Folder".) else echo "%fspec%" is a "File".

The output for this is:

"XYZ:F:\usr\perl\bin": Invalid or not found
"F:\usr\perl\bin" is a "Folder".
"F:\usr\perl\bin\perl.exe" is a "File".