Batch use a string as an active console command [duplicate] - batch-file

This question already has answers here:
Is there anyway to have preset data for user input in a batch file?
(6 answers)
Closed 4 years ago.
My trouble is to read a string from test.txt and type it in as a console command.
Example:
user is asked to provide a path to their sandbox folder and at the same time in a console it is already offered (from a saved test.txt), only waiting for the user to hit ENTER
Path to your sandboxes folder: C:\Whatever\Path\Sandboxes
Where Path to your sandboxes folder: is part of a set /p command in a script waiting for an input; and C:\Whatever\Path\Sandboxes has been typed-in by the script as a pre-offered path. From here the user can either hit ENTER, if satisfied with offered path or edit it: C:\Whatever\OtherPath\Sandcastles
I assume, the first step would be to read from test.txt into a variable, but how do I proceed from there? How do i type the characters of this string variable into a console?

By combining it with cscript.
#if (#CodeSection == #Batch) #then
#echo off
for /f "tokens=* delims=" %%i in (test.txt) do set "output=%%I"
CScript //nologo //E:JScript "%~F0" "%output%"
set /P "var=Path to your sandboxes folder: "
echo selected path = %var%
goto :EOF
#end
WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell").SendKeys(WScript.Arguments(0));

not possible with pure batch, but you can use a default value (because set /p doesn't touch the variable, when you just press ENTER):
for /f "tokens=1,* delims=:" %%a in (test.txt) do (
set "folder=%%b"
set /p "folder=%%a (ENTER for default [%%b]) : "
)
echo "%folder%"
Note: there is a space at the start of the %folder%. Easy to avoid, when you remove the space from test.txt:
Path to your sandboxes folder:C:\Whatever\Path\Sandboxes

If in said test.txt the first line only contains the default path, you could use this:
SET /P _path=<test.txt
SET /P _path=%_path%
This is the fastest way to achieve this, but it only works with the 1st line (read more).
If it is e.g. in the 3rd line use this:
FOR /F "skip=2 delims=" %%G IN ("C:\adjust\path\test.txt") DO (SET "_path=%%G" & GOTO break)
:break
SET /P _path=%_path%
For the 5th line change skip=2 to skip=4, for the 17th line to skip=16; basically if the path is in line n you want to skip n-1 lines.
You could also use FINDSTR, but this is unecessary as long as the location of the path in test.txt is known.

Related

Is there a way to create a persistent variable in batch file by writing to itself?

I have written a batch file that I use for file management. The batch file parses an .XML database to get a list of base filenames, then allows the user to move/copy those specific files into a new directory. The program prompts the user for a source directory and the name of the .XML file. I would like the program to default the variables to the last used entry, even if the previous CMD session has closed. My solution has been to ask the user for each variable at the beginning of the program, then write those variables to a separate batch file called param.bat at the end like this:
#echo off
set SOURCEDIR=NOT SET
set XMLFILE=NOT SET
if exist param.bat call param.bat
set /p SOURCEDIR=The current source directory is %SOURCEDIR%. Please input new directory or press [Enter] for no change.
set /p XMLFILE=The current XML database is %XMLFILE%. Please input new database or press [Enter] for no change.
REM {Rest of program goes here}
echo #echo off>param.bat
echo set SOURCEDIR=%SOURCEDIR%>>param.bat
echo set XMLFILE=%XMLFILE%>>param.bat
:END
I was hoping for a more elegant solution that does not require a separate batch file and allows me to store the variable data within the primary batch file itself. Any thoughts?
#echo off
setlocal
dir /r "%~f0" | findstr /c:" %~nx0:settings" 2>nul >nul && (
for /f "usebackq delims=" %%A in ("%~f0:settings") do set %%A
)
if defined SOURCEDIR echo The current source directory is %SOURCEDIR%.
set /p "SOURCEDIR= Please input new directory or press [Enter] for no change. "
if defined XMLFILE echo The current XML database is %XMLFILE%.
set /p "XMLFILE=Please input new database or press [Enter] for no change. "
(
echo SOURCEDIR=%SOURCEDIR%
echo XMLFILE=%XMLFILE%
) > "%~f0:settings"
This uses the Alternate Data Stream (ADS) of the batchfile to
save the settings.
NTFS file system is required. The ADS stream is lost if the
batchfile is copied to a file system other than NTFS.
The dir piped to findstr is to determine if the
stream does exist before trying to read from it.
This helps to avoid an error message from the for
loop if the ADS does not exist.
The for loop sets the variable names and values read from the ADS.
Finally, the variables are saved to the ADS.
Note:
%~f0 is full path to the batchfile.
See for /? about all modifiers available.
%~f0:settings is the batchfile with ADS named settings.
dir /r displays files and those with ADS.
Important:
Any idea involving writing to the batchfile could result
in file corruption so would certainly advise a backup of
the batchfile.
There is one way to save variables itself on the bat file, but, you need replace :END to :EOF
:EOF have a good explained in this link .:|:. see Where does GOTO :EOF return to?
Also, this work in fat32/ntfs file system!
You can write the variables in your bat file, and read when needs:
Obs.: Sorry my limited English
#echo off & setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
set "bat_file="%temp%\new_bat_with_new_var.tmp"" & type nul >!bat_file! & set "nop=ot Se"
for /f %%a in ('forfiles /p "%~dp0." /m "%~nx0" /c "cmd /c echo 0x40"') do set "delim=%%a"
type "%~f0"| findstr "!delim!"| find /v /i "echo" >nul || for %%s in (SOURCEDIR XMLFILE) do set "%%s=N!nop!t"
if defined SOURCEDIR echo/!SOURCEDIR!%delim%!XMLFILE!%delim%>>"%~f0"
for /f "delims=%delim% tokens=1,2" %%a in ('type "%~f0"^| findstr /l "!delim!"^| find /v /i "echo"') do (
set /p "SOURCEDIR=The current source directory is %%~a. Please input new directory or press [Enter] for no change: "
set /p "XMLFILE=The current XML database is %%~b. Please input new database or press [Enter] for no change: "
if /i "!old_string!" neq "!SOURCEDIR!!delim!!XMLFILE!!delim!" (
type "%~f0"| findstr /vic:"%%~a!delim!%%~b!delim!">>!bat_file!"
copy /y !bat_file! "%~f0" >nul
echo/!SOURCEDIR!!delim!!XMLFILE!!delim!>>%~f0"
goto :_continue_:
))
:_continue_:
rem :| Rest of program goes here | replace/change last command [goto :END] to [goto :EOF]
goto :EOF
rem :| Left 2 line blank above, because your variable will be save/read in next line above here |:

Error while reading the first line of a text file in a batch file

I am trying to take out the first line of a file called id.txt and setting it to a variable.
Set /p requestid=<id.txt
Which is giving me an error as below:
Set /p requestid=0<id.txt
Requestida was unexpected at this time.
Could anyone suggest me on this.
Why there is zero in front of shift left operator
What is the reason that the variable is not getting set with the first line of id.txt file.
Even though when I hit the same command over cmd it is working but in batch file it is getting stuck at this line with the above error.
Here is the full script:
cd C:\scripts\
dir .csr;.pem /B >csr.txt
for /f "tokens=*" %%a in (C:\scripts\csr.txt) do call :next
:next
If "%1"=="" goto end
certReq -submit -config machine_name -attrib "CertificateTemplate:XYZ" %1 %1.cer >id.txt
set /p Requid=<C:\scripts\id.txt
for /f "tokens=2 delims= " %a in ("%Requid%") do set Requid1=%a
Certutil -resubmit %Requid1%
:end
For question 1:
The 0 means STDIN (standard input). Check Standard streams for the concept.
0 is a File descriptor for stdin.
It's automatically added by the batch system, and it's not an error.
Question 2:
Your syntax seems okay, and I tested it's working. There must be other error.
However you can change it to another way:
for /f "delims=" %%i in (id.txt) do set "requestid=%%i" & goto :endfor
:endfor

Versioning up existing files using batch

#echo off
:prep
cls
for /f "tokens=2-4 delims=/ " %%a in ('date /t') do (set mydate=%%c-%%a-%%b)
:for /l %A in (1,1,100) do copy "C:\some folder\file.ext" "C:\some folder\file-%%A.ext"
set choice=
:: test to see if directory exists
if EXIST "../delivery_%mydate%.txt" (
goto overwrite
) else (
goto start
)
:overwrite
echo.
echo delivery note already exists - continue?
set /p choice='y / n ?'
if '%choice%'=='' ECHO "%choice%" is not valid please try again
if '%choice%'=='y' goto start
if '%choice%'=='n' goto end
echo.
:start
echo.
for /l %A in (1,1,100) do copy "C:\some folder\delivery_%mydate%.ext" "C:\some folder\delivery_%mydate%.ext"
echo Choose the following:
echo 1. Directories
echo 2. Files
echo 3. quit
echo.
set /p choice=
if '%choice%'=='1' goto directory
if '%choice%'=='2' goto file
if '%choice%'=='3' goto end
cls
ECHO "%choice%" is not valid please try again
goto start
:directory
dir /ad /on /b > ../delivery_%mydate%.txt
echo.
goto checksuccess
:file
dir /a-d /on /b > ../delivery_%mydate%.txt
echo.
goto checksuccess
:checksuccess
I need to add a line of code to this batch file I have created above. I need this code to save an existing file to a higher version without deleting the previous one. This will also need to be embedded into the code I created. For example it will start saving them like: filev001, filev002, etc.
1. Some general advice for writing batch files
A list of commands is output on executing in a command prompt window help. It is advisable to use in batch files for environment variables and labels not a string which is also a command. It is possible, but not advisable.
start is a command to start an application in a separate process. So it is better to use for example Begin instead of start as label.
choice is a command for a choice which is better for single character choices than using set /P. So it is better to use for example UserChoice instead of just choice as environment variable name.
It is better to use echo/ instead echo. to output an empty line. The reason is explained by DosTips forum topic ECHO. FAILS to give text or blank line - Instead use ECHO/.
Environment variable names and labels are easier to read on using CamelCase and can be more easily searched case-sensitive and if necessary replaced in a batch file than a name/label which can exist as word also in comments and in strings output with echo.
The answer on question Why is no string output with 'echo %var%' after using 'set var = text' on command line? explains in detail why the usage of the syntax set "Variable=string value" is recommended in batch files on assigning a string to an environment variable.
The directory separator on Windows is the backslash character \. The slash character / is the directory separator on Unix/Linux/Mac. On Windows / is used for options/parameters. The Windows kernel functions support also directory and file paths with / as directory separator by automatically correcting them to \ internally in path. But it is nevertheless recommended to use in a batch file \ in paths.
rem is the command for a comment in a batch file. :: is an invalid label and not really a comment. Lines with a label at begin are ignored for command execution. But a label cannot be used in a command block. For that reason it is recommended to use command rem because :: in a command block results often in unexpected behavior on execution of the batch file.
2. Get current date in a specific format
Let us look on the command line:
for /f "tokens=2-4 delims=/ " %%a in ('date /t') do (set mydate=%%c-%%a-%%b)
date /t is a command which for executes in a background command process with the command line cmd.exe /C date /t for capturing the output of this command process written to standard output handle STDOUT and process the captured output line by line.
Can this be optimized?
Yes, because on running in a command prompt window set /? and reading the output help from first to last page it can be read that there is the environment variable DATE which expands to current date. So there is no need to run the command date to get current date as string.
The command date with option /t outputs the current date in the format defined for the used user account in Windows Region and Language settings. In your case it looks like the region dependent date format is MM/dd/yyyy with the weekday abbreviation at beginning (with no comma) before the date. The date format on my computer is just dd.MM.yyyy without weekday. The environment variable DATE is in same region dependent format as output of command date /t.
So the region dependent date in format ddd, MM/dd/yyyy could be also modified to yyyy-MM-dd using the command line:
for /F "tokens=2-4 delims=/, " %%a in ("%DATE%") do set "MyDate=%%c-%%a-%%b"
It is also possible to use string substitution:
set "MyDate=%DATE:~-4%-%DATE:~-10,2%-%DATE:~-7,2%"
String substitution is also explained by help output on running set /? and read the answer on
What does %date:~-4,4%%date:~-10,2%%date:~-7,2%_%time:~0,2%%time:~3,2% mean?
But if yyyy-MM-dd is the wanted date format for current date independent on region settings of the used user account is advisable to use the command lines
for /F "tokens=2 delims==." %%I in ('%SystemRoot%\System32\wbem\wmic.exe OS GET LocalDateTime /VALUE') do set "MyDate=%%I"
set "MyDate=%MyDate:~0,4%-%MyDate:~4,2%-%MyDate:~6,2%"
This region independent solution is really much slower than the above command lines. It is explained in detail by the answer on Why does %date% produce a different result in batch file executed as scheduled task? But it has the big advantage of being region independent.
3. Prompting user for a single character choice
The usage of set /P variable=prompt is not recommended for a single character choice because
the user can just hit RETURN or ENTER without entering anything at all resulting in variable keeping its current value or still not being defined if not defined before set /P command line;
the user can make a typing mistake and presses for example Shift+2 instead of just 2 resulting (on German keyboard) to enter " as string which most batch files using set /P breaks because of a syntax error on next command line evaluating the user input;
the user can enter anything instead of one of the characters asked for including strings which on next command line results in deletion of files and folders.
The solution is using the command choice if that is possible (depends on Windows version). choice waits for the key press of a character specified in the command options and immediately continues after one of these keys is pressed. And choice exits with the index of the pressed character in list as specified in batch file. This exit code is assigned to ERRORLEVEL which can be evaluated next also within a command block without using delayed expansion or used directly in a single goto instruction.
4. Rewritten batch file
Here is the rewritten batch file:
#echo off
setlocal EnableExtensions DisableDelayedExpansion
rem set "Folder=C:\some folder"
set "Folder=F:\Temp\Test"
:Prepare
cls
rem Get current date region independent in format yyyy-MM-dd.
for /F "tokens=2 delims==." %%I in ('%SystemRoot%\System32\wbem\wmic.exe OS GET LocalDateTime /VALUE') do set "MyDate=%%I"
set "MyDate=%MyDate:~0,4%-%MyDate:~4,2%-%MyDate:~6,2%"
set "FileNumber=0"
for %%I in ("%Folder%\file-*.ext") do call :GetFileNumber "%%~nI"
goto IncrementNumber
rem Subroutine to find out highest file number without using delayed
rem environment variable expansion for number range 0 to 2147483647.
rem Numbers starting with 0 are interpreted as octal number in number
rem comparison which makes it necessary to remove leading 0 from the
rem number string get from file name starting with 5 characters.
:GetFileNumber
set "Number=%~1"
set "Number=%Number:~5%
:RemoveLeadingZero
if "%Number%" == "" goto :EOF
if "%Number:~0,1%" == "0" set "Number=%Number:~1%" & goto RemoveLeadingZero
if %Number% GTR %FileNumber% set "FileNumber=%Number%"
goto :EOF
rem Make sure the file number has at least 3 digits.
:IncrementNumber
set /A FileNumber+=1
if %FileNumber% GEQ 100 goto ExistDelivery
set "FileNumber=00%FileNumber%"
set "FileNumber=%FileNumber:~-3%"
rem Test to see if file exists already.
:ExistDelivery
if not exist "..\delivery_%MyDate%.txt" goto Begin
echo/
%SystemRoot%\System32\choice.exe /C YN /N /M "Delivery note already exists, continue (Y/N)? "
if errorlevel 2 goto :EOF
:Begin
set "FileName=file-%FileNumber%.ext"
copy "%Folder%\file.ext" "%Folder%\%FileName%" >nul
echo/
echo Choose the following:
echo/
echo 1. Directories
echo 2. Files
echo 3. Quit
echo/
%SystemRoot%\System32\choice.exe /C 123 /N /M "Your choice? "
if errorlevel 3 goto :EOF
if errorlevel 2 goto GetFileList
dir * /AD /ON /B >"..\delivery_%MyDate%.txt"
echo/
goto CheckSuccess
:GetFileList
dir * /A-D /ON /B >"..\delivery_%MyDate%.txt"
echo/
:CheckSuccess
rem More commands.
endlocal
It was not really clear for me what the entire batch code is for at all.
It would have been also easier to write the determination of highest number in a file name on knowing the possible number range like 001 to 100. So I wrote a general solution for 001, 002, ..., 099, 100, 101, ..., 1000, ..., 2147483647.
For understanding the used commands and how they work, open a command prompt window, execute there the following commands, and read entirely all help pages displayed for each command very carefully.
call /?
cls /?
copy /?
dir /?
echo /?
endlocal /?
for /?
goto /?
if /?
rem /?
set /?
setlocal /?
wmic /?
wmic os /?
wmic os get /?
wmic os get localdatetime /?
See also answer on Single line with multiple commands using Windows batch file for an explanation of & operator and read the Microsoft article about Using command redirection operators.

how to set a variable for the value of " ping 8.8.8.8 | find /c "TTL=" " [duplicate]

This question already has answers here:
Assign output of a program to a variable using a MS batch file
(12 answers)
Closed 9 months ago.
I'm trying to assign the output of a command to a variable - as in, I'm trying to set the current flash version to a variable. I know this is wrong, but this is what I've tried:
set var=reg query hklm\SOFTWARE\Macromedia\FlashPlayer\CurrentVersion>
or
reg query hklm\SOFTWARE\Macromedia\FlashPlayer\CurrentVersion >> set var
Yeah, as you can see I'm a bit lost. Any and all help is appreciated!
A method has already been devised, however this way you don't need a temp file.
for /f "delims=" %%i in ('command') do set output=%%i
However, I'm sure this has its own exceptions and limitations.
This post has a method to achieve this
from (zvrba)
You can do it by redirecting the output to a file first. For example:
echo zz > bla.txt
set /p VV=<bla.txt
echo %VV%
You can't assign a process output directly into a var, you need to parse the output with a For /F loop:
#Echo OFF
FOR /F "Tokens=2,*" %%A IN (
'Reg Query "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Macromedia\FlashPlayer" /v "CurrentVersion"'
) DO (
REM Set "Version=%%B"
Echo Version: %%B
)
Pause&Exit
http://ss64.com/nt/for_f.html
PS: Change the reg key used if needed.
Okay here some more complex sample for the use of For /F
:: Main
#prompt -$G
call :REGQUERY "Software\Classes\CLSID\{3E6AE265-3382-A429-56D1-BB2B4D1D}"
#goto :EOF
:REGQUERY
:: Checks HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ and HKEY_CURRENT_USER\
:: for the key and lists its content
#call :EXEC "REG QUERY HKCU\%~1"
#call :EXEC "REG QUERY "HKLM\%~1""
#goto :EOF
:EXEC
#set output=
#for /F "delims=" %%i in ('%~1 2^>nul') do #(
set output=%%i
)
#if not "%output%"=="" (
echo %1 -^> %output%
)
#goto :EOF
I packed it into the sub function :EXEC so all of its nasty details of implementation doesn't litters the main script.
So it got some kinda some batch tutorial.
Notes 'bout the code:
the output from the command executed via call :EXEC command is stored in %output%. Batch cmd doesn't cares about scopes so %output% will be also available in the main script.
the # the beginning is just decoration and there to suppress echoing the command line. You may delete them all and just put some #echo off at the first line is really dislike that. However like this I find debugging much more nice.
Decoration Number two is prompt -$G. It's there to make command prompt look like this ->
I use :: instead of rem
the tilde(~) in %~1 is to remove quotes from the first argument
2^>nul is there to suppress/discard stderr error output. Normally you would do it via 2>nul. Well the ^ the batch escape char is there avoids to early resolving the redirector(>). There's some simulare use a little later in the script: echo %1 -^>... so there ^ makes it possible the output a '>' via echo what else wouldn't have been possible.
even if the compare at #if not "%output%"==""looks like in most common programming languages - it's maybe different that you expected (if you're not used to MS-batch). Well remove the '#' at the beginning. Study the output. Change it tonot %output%==""-rerun and consider why this doesn't work. ;)
This is work for me
#FOR /f "delims=" %i in ('reg query hklm\SOFTWARE\Macromedia\FlashPlayer\CurrentVersion') DO set var=%i
echo %var%

Get cursor position via Windows 10 console VT-100 escape sequence

I'm playing around with the new (limited) support for VT-100 escape sequences within the Windows 10 console. The supported sequences are documented at https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/mt638032(v=vs.85).aspx.
In particular, the following sequence that reports the current cursor position interests me.
ESC[6n - responds with ESC[<n>;<m>R,
where <n> is the row number, and <m> the column number
The response is passed off as keyboard input, and appears on the screen, but I have no idea how to programmatically make use of the information. Ideally I would like to get the <n> and <m> values into environment variables from within a batch file.
But if anyone can demonstrate how to capture the variables using any language, then I may be able to use that knowledge to develop an effective batch file strategy.
I can get close with the following simple script called ANSI.BAT
#echo off
setlocal enableDelayedExpansion
for /f "delims=" %%C in (
'forfiles /p "%~dp0." /m "%~nx0" /c "cmd /c echo(0x1B"'
) do set "esc=%%C"
set "csi=%esc%["
echo(Inquiry:%csi%6n
set /p "pos="
echo response=!pos:%esc%=ESC!
--OUTPUT--
C:\test>ansi
Inquiry:
^[[3;9R
response=ESC[3;9R
C:\test>
I can easily parse out the values using FOR /F, once I have the response in a variable. The problem I am having is I must manually press the <Enter> key after the response appears on the screen in order to terminate the input for my SET /P statement. I am stumped on where to go from here...
EDIT - One last requirement: I don't want the inquiry response to appear on the screen, as that disrupts the screen, and changes the cursor position. I suspect this may be the toughest nut to crack, perhaps impossible with pure batch.
Major change after three years
It works with reading the response by using XCOPY or REPLACE.
I'm using replace here, to avoid language dependent problems.
#echo off
for /F "delims=#" %%a in ('"prompt #$E# & for %%a in (1) do rem"') do set "ESC=%%a"
call :get_cursor_pos
exit /b
:get_cursor_pos
set "response="
set pos=2
:_get_loop
REM *** Request Cursor position
<nul set /p "=%ESC%[6n"
FOR /L %%# in (1 1 %pos%) DO pause < CON > NUL
for /F "tokens=1 skip=1 eol=" %%C in ('"REPLACE /W ? . < con"') DO (
set "char=%%C"
)
set "response=%response%%char%"
set /a pos+=1
if "%char%" NEQ "R" goto :_get_loop
set response
exit /b
The main problem is, XCOPY or REPLACE allows me to read one character from the input stream, but then clears the remaining buffer.
Conversely, PAUSE reads one character, preserving the remaining buffer, but does not reveal what character was read.
To solve this, I issue the query multiple times, reading a different character of the response each time. For each iteration I use a combination of 2 or more PAUSE statements followed by REPLACE to read a specific character of the response. Each iteration uses one more PAUSE than the prior iteration, until I am able to read the terminating R.
I developed this technique and initially posted it at DosTips - Query States using Console Virtual Terminal Sequences.
I have NOT Windows 10, so I can't complete any test. However, if the response of the Ansi ESC[6n sequence is fill the keyboard input buffer with ESC[<n>;<m>R characters, then it is just necessary to add an Enter key to such input in order to read it via SET /P command, and this can be done via SendKeys JScript method.
I also used a simpler method to get an ESC character in a variable.
EDIT: I modified the code accordingly to comments...
#if (#CodeSegment == #Batch) #then
#echo off
title Ansi Test
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
for /F %%a in ('echo prompt $E ^| cmd') do set "esc=%%a"
set "csi=%esc%["
echo Inquiry:%csi%6n
cscript //nologo //E:JScript "%~F0"
set /p "pos=" > NUL
echo response=!pos:%esc%=ESC!
#end
var sh = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell");
sh.AppActivate("Ansi Test");
sh.SendKeys("{ENTER}");
Please, post the result...

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