How to run a hello.js file in Node.js on windows?

user_581922 0
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I am trying to run a hello world program written in javascript in a separate file named hello.js

Currently running windows version of node.js.

The code runs perfectly in console window but how do I reference the path in windows environment.

C:\abc\zyx\hello.js

in Unix I guess it is showing $ node hello.js

I'm absolutely new to Node.js Please correct me if I am doing something wrong.

I tried

> node C:\abc\zyx\hello.js ----didn't work

> C:\abc\zyx\hello.js --didn't work

UPDATE1:

Added node.exe to the folder where hello.js file is sitting.
Added path point to the folder c:\abc\zyx\ and I get an error that says

ReferenceError: hello is not defined

see contents of hello.js 

setTimeout(function() {
console.log('World!');
}, 2000);
console.log('Hello');

UPDATE 2:

So far I have tried all these version and none of them seems to work. May be I am doing something completely wrong.

>node hello.js
>$ node hello.js
>node.exe hello.js
>node /hello.js
>node \hello.js
> \node \hello.js
> /node /hello.js
> C:\abc\xyz\node.exe C:\abc\xyz\hello.js
> C:\abc\xyz\node.exe C:/abc/xyz/hello.js
> hello.js
> /hello.js
> \hello.js
>node hello

Refer to my file structure

.
├── hello.js
├── node.exe
└── paths.txt

RESOLVED: Instead of running node.exe, try running in command prompt with the following option and it worked.

c:\>node c:\abc\hello.js
Hello
World! (after 2 secs)
node.js windows
17 Answers

Windows/CMD does not know where the node file is located. You can manually type out:

path=%path%;"c:\Program Files\nodejs"

each time you open a new cmd.exe prompte

OR (in Windows 10),

  1. right click on This PC -> properties.
  2. Click on Advanced system settings -> Environment Variables (bottom right).
  3. Select Path and click Edit.
  4. Click new and enter C:\Program Files\nodejs.
  5. Reboot and you should be able to run node from any directory.
user_99547380

Just change file association of .js file to node.exe and you can run directly from explorer.

  1. Right click on the file -> Select "Open with" -> Select "Choose another program"
  2. Check box "Always use this app to open .js file"
  3. Click "More apps" -> "Look for another app in PC"
  4. Navigate to node.js installation directory.(Default C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.exe"
  5. Click "Open" and you can just see cmd flashing

Now you will be able to run any .js files directly just by double clicking.

Note: Adding below code to the end of js file will be useful as it will keep the console open for a keystroke.

console.log('Press any key to exit');

process.stdin.setRawMode(true);
process.stdin.resume();
process.stdin.on('data', process.exit.bind(process, 0));
user_17407150

The problem was that you opened the Node.js repl while everyone automatically assumed you were in the command prompt. For what it's worth you can run a javascript file from the repl with the .load command. For example:

.load c:/users/username/documents/script.js

The same command can also be used in the command prompt if you first start node inside the command prompt by entering node with no arguments (assuming node is in PATH).

I find it fascinating that 1)everyone assumed you were in the command prompt rather than repl, 2)no one seems to know about .load, and 3)this has 273 upvotes, proving that a lot of other node.js beginners are similarly confused.

user_41256930

Step For Windows

  1. press the ctrl + r.then type cmd and hit enter.

  2. now command prompt will be open.

  3. after the type cd filepath of file. ex(cd C:\Users\user\Desktop\ ) then hit the enter.

  4. please check if npm installed or not using this command node -v. then if you installed will get node version.
  5. type the command on command prompt like this node filename.js . example(node app.js)
C:\Users\user\Desktop>node app.js
user_85625500

I had such problem for windows. And I decided it so: startApp.cmd:

@set JAVA_HOME=C:\jdk160_24
@set PATH=%JAVA_HOME%/bin;%PATH%
@cd /D C:\app\

@start /b C:\WINDOWS\system32\cscript.exe 
C:\app\start.js

and saved it cmd file in dir C:\scripts next file is runApp.bat:

C:\scripts\startApp.cmd
user_90526560

Install node properly, that's it.

Now open terminal to path where your .js file is.

for example- if Javascript file(fileName.js) is at folder C:\Documents\Project1.

Just go to that folder, type node to check node is enable then type node fileName.js

Simple! Your work is done!!

user_71062920
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