title: Getting windows to start R in batch mode using the Start command
body: <p>I know I must be making a simple syntax mistake, but I want to have a windows batch file that fires up 9 instances of R and runs a different routine in each one. I want these to run simultaneously (i.e. asynchronously). I can fire up 9 command prompt windows and type a command in each one, but it seems like with the START command I should be able to make them start from a single batch file. </p>
  
  <p>Here's an example of how I start one of the instances of R:</p>
  
  <pre><code>"C:\Program Files (x86)\R\R-2.8.1\bin\R" CMD BATCH "C:\Users\jd\Documents\mexico\Estado\getdata1.r" 
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Reading this <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/72671/how-to-create-batch-file-in-windows-using-start-with-a-path-and-command-with-sp">previous stackoverflow question</a> along with <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/154075/using-the-dos-start-command-with-parameters-passed-to-the-started-program">this previous question</a> makes me think I should be able to do this:</p>
  
  <pre><code>START "" "C:\Program Files (x86)\R\R-2.8.1\bin\R" CMD BATCH "C:\Users\jd\Documents\mexico\Estado\getdata1.r" /b
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>That does not return an error, it just returns a prompt and R never starts. What am I missing?</p>