Extract multiple values from one line string with batch file - batch-file

Question

I'm trying to extract every value for FileRef from a string I've already extracted out of a file. Unfortunately, the string is one line which makes it more difficult to use for /f "tokens=*".
The string is:
"<Cim:TrnTable_list><Cim:TrnTable Id="Root"><Cim:TrnElem Ref="3" FileRef="A1-FS.elt"/><Cim:TrnElem Ref="4" FileRef="A1-MS.elt"/><Cim:TrnElem Ref="9" FileRef="Product\Product-v1\Product-v1-MD.elt"/><Cim:TrnElem Ref="11" FileRef="Product\Product-v2\Product-v2-MD.elt"/><Cim:TrnElem Ref="12" FileRef="RunnerPart_Assembly#1.elt"/></Cim:TrnTable></Cim:TrnTable_list>"
How to get every value for FileRef inserted into a variable in the following format?:
A1-FS.elt?A1-MS.elt?Product\Product-v1\Product-v1-MD.elt?Product\Product-v2\Product-v2-MD.elt?RunnerPart_Assembly#1.elt
I mean, then I could loop trough them using for /f "delims=?" right?
Or is there a way to convert each ? in the above example to a 'new line' within one string, or maybe even better ideas to loop trough each FileRef-value?
Many thanks!

Answer 1

Squashman is right in his comment, use a language that is capable of handling XML data natively.
Anyway, if you insist on using pure Windows batch scripting, you could assemble a new string with ? symbols as separator like in the following script:
#echo off
setlocal EnableExtensions DisableDelayedExpansion
rem // Define constants here:
set "_FILE=%~dpn0.txt" & rem // (path to file containing the line of text)
(set ^"_LF=^
%= empty line =%
^") & rem // (this constitutes a new-line character)
rem // Initialise collection variable:
set "COLL=?"
rem // Read line from file:
for /F "usebackq delims=" %%L in ("%_FILE%") do (
set "LINE=%%~L"
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
rem // Replace `><` by `>` + line-break + `<`:
set ^"LINE=!LINE:^>^<=^>^%_LF%%_LF%^<!^"
rem // Read one tag enclosed within `<` and `>`:
for /F "delims=" %%I in ("!LINE!") do (
endlocal
set "ITEM=%%I"
rem // Extract string between ` FileRef` and `/>`:
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
set "ITEM=!ITEM:* FileRef=!"
set "ITEM=!ITEM:/>=!"
rem // Check for `=`-sign after `FileRef`:
if "!ITEM:~,1!"=="=" (
rem // Remove leading `=` and surrounding `""`:
for /F "delims=| eol=|" %%F in ("!ITEM:~1!") do (
endlocal
set "NAME=%%~F"
rem // Assemble return string using `?` as separator:
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
for /F "delims=| eol=|" %%J in ("!COLL!!NAME!?") do (
endlocal
set "COLL=%%J"
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
)
)
)
)
endlocal
)
rem // Return collection variable:
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
echo(!COLL:~1,-1!
endlocal
endlocal
exit /B
Toggling delayed expansion is done in order not to have trouble with ! symbols.
Better than collecting all values in a single variable is to just loop through them in my opinion.

Answer 2

This is one other way to brute force this. This code will put each FileRef into its own variable and sequence the variable name up.
#echo off
FOR /F "delims=" %%G IN (line.txt) do set "line=%%G"
set i=0
:loop
set /a i+=1
set "line=%line:*FileRef=%"
FOR /F "tokens=1* delims==/" %%G IN ("%line%") DO (
set "var%i%=%%~G"
set "line=%%H"
)
echo "%line%"|find /I "fileref" >nul 2>&1 &&GOTO loop
set var
pause
When executed it will output this.
C:\BatchFiles\SO\XML>bruteforce.bat
var1=A1-FS.elt
var2=A1-MS.elt
var3=Product\Product-v1\Product-v1-MD.elt
var4=Product\Product-v2\Product-v2-MD.elt
var5=RunnerPart_Assembly#1.elt
Press any key to continue . . .
If you don't want the data assigned into their own individual variables you can just use the %%G meta-variable directly inside the FOR command.