batch file to open 2 progs with time delay

Can anyone tell me how to write a batch file to open 2 programs, the first to open immediately and the second one with a 20 second delay after the first one? Like for example, I would like to open Google Earth first and then want to open another programs Event Manager 20 seconds after Google Earth? How can I do that? Thanks.

You can try to start a script file from the bat file, and use the argument to wait till it returns. This could be a script that waits 20 seconds before returning.

---example.bat--
start first.exe
start /wait myscript.vbs
start second.exe
--end file--

--myscript.vbs
wscript.sleep 20000
--end file--

I dont think it is possible by batch commands, but a very simple script will do this:

; Delay.au3
; Compile with AutoIt 3.x, http://www.techarena.in
; Usage in batch: Delay {seconds}

Opt ("TrayIconHide",1)

if $cmd[0] > 0 then
$thisDelay=$cmd[1] * 1000
sleep($thisDelay)
endif
exit

You can try to copy and paste the below into notepad (don't use Word or Wordpad) and save it as "Abc.bat"

start "C:\Program Files\Google\Google Earth Pro\googleearth.exe"
echo wscript.sleep 20000 > temp.vbs
start /wait temp.vbs
start "C:\Documents and Settings\Andrew\Desktop\DUMP\EventManager\EventManager.exe"
del temp.vbs

You can try to use a visual basic script instead. Just copy and paste the below in notepad and save it as "Abc.vbs":

dim oShell
Set oShell=WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

oShell.Run "calc.exe",1,false
wscript.sleep 20000
oShell.Run "notepad.exe",1,false

If it works, replace "calc.exe" and "notepad.exe" with your complete programs' paths and names.