I am trying to match a batch script to do this tutorial automatically, for any system.
#echo off
for /f "tokens=4* delims= " %%A in ('reg query "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders" /v "My Pictures"') do (set loc=%%A %%B)
set loc=%loc%\Spotlight
set /p loc=Location for images (default - "%loc%") [use %%loc%% for default]?:
start robocopy "%localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets" "%temp%\spotlight"
ren %temp%\spotlight\*.* *.jpg
robocopy "%temp%\spotlight" "%loc%"
start %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe %loc%
However, if I try typing %loc%\Spotlight2, it places it in the Desktop\%loc%\spotlight2 (desktop is the current working directory).
Is there a way to make set /p take environment variables?
the usual way to enter a default is an empty input (keeps predefined varable unchanged). But there is a way to enable a variable input. Try the following and answer the question with %windir%
#echo off
setlocal
set x=%username%
set /p "x=enter value ([ENTER] for default: "%x%") "
call set x=%x%
echo %x%
The trick is to expand the variable twice by using another layer of parsing (whith call).
SET /P is basically just an input routine. There is no documented way to have it do further evaluation, and I doubt one exists.
One could try to get CMD to evaluate the contents of a variable to expand any variables in the contents -- I have seem kludges to do this. However, I don't think that is a good way to do what you want.
I think you would be better off using something easier to type, and testing for that explicitly. For example:
set loc=%loc%\Spotlight
echo Enter location for images, or just press [ENTER] to use the default.
echo Default location: %loc%
set userloc=*
set /p userloc=Location?
if not "%userloc%"=="*" set loc=%userloc%
There's a way to do what you want without default locations! It involves variable manipulation:
...
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
set loc=%loc%\Spotlight
set default=%loc%
set /p "loc=Location [%loc%] for default: "
set out=!loc:%%loc%%=%default%!
echo %out%
...
Hence, typing %loc% replaces it with the original value of loc.
I tested this by typing %loc%\s and it performed as expected. In terms of it being the correct directory, thats to do with how you set the value of loc prior to this code.
Related
I'm required to write a program that displays the computer name, username, and path to user files. All of these should be taken from local system variables. It's been hinted that I'm supposed to use the set command, however, I'm not sure how to use the set command in this situation... I had assumed that I could just use echo %COMPUTERNAME% etc. How can I implement the set command?
I'm guessing that the hint about the Set command was so that you could use the output of it to help you identify the local system variables to use in your batch file, not that you need to use Set to output them.
When you enter Set at the Command prompt you'll get output showing you each of the defined system variables.
Additionally, if you enter Set ComputerName at the prompt, you should get output showing you all variables which begin with the string ComputerName.
So based on the output of the Set command you could Echo, your three variables from a batch file like this:
#Echo Off
Echo %ComputerName%
Echo %UserName%
Echo %UserProfile%
You could also include the variables with their values:
#Echo Off
Echo %%ComputerName%%=%ComputerName%
Echo %%UserName%%=%UserName%
Echo %%UserProfile%%=%UserProfile%
You could also consider running a simple For loop in your batch file to show the same content using the Set command directly:
#Echo Off
For %%A In (ComputerName,UserName,UserProfile) Do Set %%A
Pause
Or you could return just their values using Set and Echo from nested For loops:
#Echo Off
For %%A In (ComputerName,UserName,UserProfile) Do (
For /F "Tokens=1* Delims==" %%B In ('Set %%A') Do Echo %%C)
Pause
to take the question very literal ("display the computer name ... using set command"):
set computername
set username
set userprofile
output like:
COMPUTERNAME=Elon-PC
USERNAME=Muscrat
USERPROFILE=C:\Users\Muskrat
(Compo already has this method in his answer, but I guess using the for command is over the boundaries of the current state of your course)
(Note: for practical use, in most cases Compo's answer (using variables) is better, because in practice, you will probably do something with the values, not "just" show them, but this literally answers your question)
I am writing a CMD script to generate documentation markdown pages for my GitHub repository. I have decided to give the script a default directory for the project and its documentation folder, and if the end user wants to use a different one, they must specify it, before the next step.
My code is something like:
echo.
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
set projectDirectory=GroupManagementAppServer
set documentationFolder=documentation
rem ask user for confirmation of projectDirectory,documentationFolder to use
choice /m "By default, project directory is %projectDirectory% and documentation is stored in %documentationFolder%. Should I use these?"
rem if no
if %errorlevel% == 2 (
rem get projectDirectory,documentationFolder from user
set /p relativeDocumentationPathname=Please enter relative pathname to the documentation folder:
rem parse input
call :getAbsolutePath %relativeDocumentationPathname%
set documentationFolder=%_absolutePath%
set projectDirectory="%documentationFolder%\.."
)
echo %_absolutePath%
echo %documentationFolder%
echo %projectDirectory%
:getAbsolutePath
SETLOCAL
for %%i in ("%1%") do (
set filedrive=%%~di
set filepath=%%~pi
set filename=%%~ni
set fileextension=%%~xi
)
ENDLOCAL & SET _absolutePath=%filedrive%%filepath%%filename%%fileextension%
thus far, and when the echos complete, it's as if documentationFolder was never redefined! What the heck is going on, and how do I fix this, so that I can implement the rest of this and move on to actually getting some documentation on?
Here is the fixed code with delayed expansion properly applied, the sub-routine reduced and some minor improvements, mainly related to quotation:
echo/
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
set "projectDirectory=GroupManagementAppServer"
set "documentationFolder=documentation"
rem // Ask user for confirmation of `projectDirectory`, `documentationFolder` to use:
choice /M "By default, project directory is '%projectDirectory%' and documentation is stored in '%documentationFolder%'. Should I use these?"
rem // If no:
if %errorlevel% == 2 (
rem // Get `projectDirectory`, `documentationFolder` from user:
set /P relativeDocumentationPathname="Please enter relative pathname to the documentation folder: "
rem // Parse input:
call :getAbsolutePath "%relativeDocumentationPathname%"
set "documentationFolder=!_absolutePath!"
set "projectDirectory=!documentationFolder!\.."
)
echo %_absolutePath%
echo %documentationFolder%
echo %projectDirectory%
goto :EOF
:getAbsolutePath
setlocal
for /D %%I in ("%~1") do (
set "filespec=%%~fI"
)
endlocal & set "_absolutePath=%filespec%"
I'd suggest you use the SO search facility in the top black bar and try to find delayedexpansion. There are hundreds of items on this matter.
Fundamentally, when a block (parenthesised series of statements) is encountered, the entire block is evaluated, substituting the then-current values of the variables and once that is done, the code is executed.
In your case, call echo %%var%% would show the modified values, or using the modified values within a subroutine (like call :arouthethatechosthevalues) would implement the new values.
I have a file C:\parameters.txt that contains different parameters, for example:
env_user=username123
env_pw=password123
env_url=example.com
Now I created a .cmd file that needs to get these values and put them in a variable, for example:
SET var_user=<Here I need 'username123'>
SET var_pw=<Here I need 'password123'>
SET var_url=<Here I need 'example.com'>
How do I write this in my cmd script to get the correct values for my variables?
You need to set a delimiter for = character so that words before/after = will be separated. Besides that, you need an array to set each of the parameters. You can do it like this:
#echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
set increment=0
for /f "tokens=1* delims==" %%a in (C:\parameters.txt) do (
set parameters_array[!increment!]=%%b
set /a increment+=1
)
echo %parameters_array[0]%
echo %parameters_array[1]%
echo %parameters_array[2]%
pause >nul
Keep in mind, array always starts from 0. You could change to set increment=1 if you prefer the array starts from 1.
Just a slight alternative to dark fang's solution, since your parameters.txt file's contents are already in the format of variable=value, you could
#echo off
setlocal
for /f "usebackq delims=" %%I in ("c:\parameters.txt") do set "%%I"
rem // display env_* variables
set env_
pause
The usebackq option allows you to quote the file name, which might be needed if you ever move c:\parameters.txt to a location containing spaces, ampersands, or other tricksy characters. It's a good habit to follow when reading the contents of text files with for /f.
Also, it's better not to use delayed expansion if you don't need it, as delayed expansion can sometimes corrupt values containing exclamation marks -- a situation that is reasonably possible when dealing with passwords.
I've found the solution thanks to different inputs.
#echo off
For /F "tokens=1* delims==" %%A IN (C:\parameters.txt) DO (
IF "%%A"=="env_user" set var_user=%%B
IF "%%A"=="env_pw" set var_pw=%%B
IF "%%A"=="env_url" set var_url=%%B
)
This will set the correct variables (not local) once the specific code name (before the = in parameters.txt) has been found.
I'm trying to get to the value of a variable that's made up of two other variables. The only way I've gotten this to work is by using the FOR command with the /F switch and opening a second command shell:
SET A=This
SET B=That
SET ThisThat=YES!
FOR /F %I IN ('ECHO %A%%B%') DO cmd.exe /C ECHO %%I%
Output:
C:\>cmd.exe /c echo %ThisThat%
YES!
Does anyone know of a more elegant way to do this?
UPDATE
Here's a better explanation of what I was trying to accomplish (and was able to accomplish using y'all's - especially Aacini's - responses)
For a Rational BuildForge project, I have environment variables defined for each deployment target host. Example:
CURAM_HOST_NAME_DEV=DDW5T
CURAM_HOST_NAME_UAT=DUW5T
CURAM_HOST_NAME_TRN=DTW5T
CURAM_HOST_NAME_PRD=DPW5P
Another variable HOST contains the environment to deploy to. The deployment code is common for all deployment targets and uses the variable CURAM_HOST_NAME, so I needed to set this variable to the value of the variable that corresponds to the HOST being deployed to. The following does the trick:
#ECHO OFF
SET CURAM_HOST_NAME_DEV=DDW5T
SET CURAM_HOST_NAME_UAT=DUW5T
SET CURAM_HOST_NAME_TRN=DTW5T
SET CURAM_HOST_NAME_PRD=DPW5P
SET HOST=DEV
CALL ECHO %%CURAM_HOST_NAME_%HOST%%%
SET HOST=UAT
CALL ECHO %%CURAM_HOST_NAME_%HOST%%%
SET HOST=TRN
CALL ECHO %%CURAM_HOST_NAME_%HOST%%%
SET HOST=PRD
CALL ECHO %%CURAM_HOST_NAME_%HOST%%%
Output:
DDW5T
DUW5T
DTW5T
DPW5P
In the BuildForge step, the code that sets this particular variable looks like the following:
.bset env "CURAM_HOST_NAME=`CALL ECHO %%%CURAM_HOST_NAME_%%HOST%%%%`"
(The BF parser requires additional %'s)
For a value of DEV for the HOST variable this produces the following in the log:
1026 5/3/14 7:34 PM STEP .bset env "CURAM_HOST_NAME=`CALL ECHO %%%CURAM_HOST_NAME_%%HOST%%%%`"
1027 5/3/14 7:34 PM EXEC .bset env 'CURAM_HOST_NAME' = 'DDW5BTH
Thanks a lot everyone. Wish I had the reputation that would allow me to upvote your answers!
Jozef
#echo off
SET A=This
SET B=That
SET ThisThat=YES!
call echo %%%A%%B%%%
EDIT: Updated answer to an updated question!
#ECHO OFF
SET CURAM_HOST_NAME_DEV=DDW5T
SET CURAM_HOST_NAME_UAT=DUW5T
SET CURAM_HOST_NAME_TRN=DTW5T
SET CURAM_HOST_NAME_PRD=DPW5P
for %%a in (DEV UAT TRN PRD) do CALL ECHO %%CURAM_HOST_NAME_%%a%%
However, you should note that the !variable! replacement (together with setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion) run much faster than the CALL echo %%variable%% trick:
#ECHO OFF
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
SET CURAM_HOST_NAME_DEV=DDW5T
SET CURAM_HOST_NAME_UAT=DUW5T
SET CURAM_HOST_NAME_TRN=DTW5T
SET CURAM_HOST_NAME_PRD=DPW5P
for %%a in (DEV UAT TRN PRD) do ECHO !CURAM_HOST_NAME_%%a!
Perhaps you may want to review this post
#echo off
setlocal enableDelayedExpansion
set "A=this"
set "B=that"
set "thisthat=YES^!"
echo !%A%%B%!
Note that the exclamation must be escaped in the assignment of thisthat because delayed expansion is enabled.
I have a batch file and I want to include an external file containing some variables (say configuration variables). Is it possible?
Note: I'm assuming Windows batch files as most people seem to be unaware that there are significant differences and just blindly call everything with grey text on black background DOS. Nevertheless, the first variant should work in DOS as well.
Executable configuration
The easiest way to do this is to just put the variables in a batch file themselves, each with its own set statement:
set var1=value1
set var2=value2
...
and in your main batch:
call config.cmd
Of course, that also enables variables to be created conditionally or depending on aspects of the system, so it's pretty versatile. However, arbitrary code can run there and if there is a syntax error, then your main batch will exit too. In the UNIX world this seems to be fairly common, especially for shells. And if you think about it, autoexec.bat is nothing else.
Key/value pairs
Another way would be some kind of var=value pairs in the configuration file:
var1=value1
var2=value2
...
You can then use the following snippet to load them:
for /f "delims=" %%x in (config.txt) do (set "%%x")
This utilizes a similar trick as before, namely just using set on each line. The quotes are there to escape things like <, >, &, |. However, they will themselves break when quotes are used in the input. Also you always need to be careful when further processing data in variables stored with such characters.
Generally, automatically escaping arbitrary input to cause no headaches or problems in batch files seems pretty impossible to me. At least I didn't find a way to do so yet. Of course, with the first solution you're pushing that responsibility to the one writing the config file.
If the external configuration file is also valid batch file, you can just use:
call externalconfig.bat
inside your script. Try creating following a.bat:
#echo off
call b.bat
echo %MYVAR%
and b.bat:
set MYVAR=test
Running a.bat should generate output:
test
Batch uses the less than and greater than brackets as input and output pipes.
>file.ext
Using only one output bracket like above will overwrite all the information in that file.
>>file.ext
Using the double right bracket will add the next line to the file.
(
echo
echo
)<file.ext
This will execute the parameters based on the lines of the file. In this case, we are using two lines that will be typed using "echo". The left bracket touching the right parenthesis bracket means that the information from that file will be piped into those lines.
I have compiled an example-only read/write file. Below is the file broken down into sections to explain what each part does.
#echo off
echo TEST R/W
set SRU=0
SRU can be anything in this example. We're actually setting it to prevent a crash if you press Enter too fast.
set /p SRU=Skip Save? (y):
if %SRU%==y goto read
set input=1
set input2=2
set /p input=INPUT:
set /p input2=INPUT2:
Now, we need to write the variables to a file.
(echo %input%)> settings.cdb
(echo %input2%)>> settings.cdb
pause
I use .cdb as a short form for "Command Database". You can use any extension.
The next section is to test the code from scratch. We don't want to use the set variables that were run at the beginning of the file, we actually want them to load FROM the settings.cdb we just wrote.
:read
(
set /p input=
set /p input2=
)<settings.cdb
So, we just piped the first two lines of information that you wrote at the beginning of the file (which you have the option to skip setting the lines to check to make sure it's working) to set the variables of input and input2.
echo %input%
echo %input2%
pause
if %input%==1 goto newecho
pause
exit
:newecho
echo If you can see this, good job!
pause
exit
This displays the information that was set while settings.cdb was piped into the parenthesis. As an extra good-job motivator, pressing enter and setting the default values which we set earlier as "1" will return a good job message.
Using the bracket pipes goes both ways, and is much easier than setting the "FOR" stuff. :)
So you just have to do this right?:
#echo off
echo text shizzle
echo.
echo pause^>nul (press enter)
pause>nul
REM writing to file
(
echo XD
echo LOL
)>settings.cdb
cls
REM setting the variables out of the file
(
set /p input=
set /p input2=
)<settings.cdb
cls
REM echo'ing the variables
echo variables:
echo %input%
echo %input2%
pause>nul
if %input%==XD goto newecho
DEL settings.cdb
exit
:newecho
cls
echo If you can see this, good job!
DEL settings.cdb
pause>nul
exit
:: savevars.bat
:: Use $ to prefix any important variable to save it for future runs.
#ECHO OFF
SETLOCAL
REM Load variables
IF EXIST config.txt FOR /F "delims=" %%A IN (config.txt) DO SET "%%A"
REM Change variables
IF NOT DEFINED $RunCount (
SET $RunCount=1
) ELSE SET /A $RunCount+=1
REM Display variables
SET $
REM Save variables
SET $>config.txt
ENDLOCAL
PAUSE
EXIT /B
Output:
$RunCount=1
$RunCount=2
$RunCount=3
The technique outlined above can also be used to share variables among multiple batch files.
Source: http://www.incodesystems.com/products/batchfi1.htm
Kinda old subject but I had same question a few days ago and I came up with another idea (maybe someone will still find it usefull)
For example you can make a config.bat with different subjects (family, size, color, animals) and apply them individually in any order anywhere you want in your batch scripts:
#echo off
rem Empty the variable to be ready for label config_all
set config_all_selected=
rem Go to the label with the parameter you selected
goto :config_%1
REM This next line is just to go to end of file
REM in case that the parameter %1 is not set
goto :end
REM next label is to jump here and get all variables to be set
:config_all
set config_all_selected=1
:config_family
set mother=Mary
set father=John
set sister=Anna
rem This next line is to skip going to end if config_all label was selected as parameter
if not "%config_all_selected%"=="1" goto :end
:config_test
set "test_parameter_all=2nd set: The 'all' parameter WAS used before this echo"
if not "%config_all_selected%"=="1" goto :end
:config_size
set width=20
set height=40
if not "%config_all_selected%"=="1" goto :end
:config_color
set first_color=blue
set second_color=green
if not "%config_all_selected%"=="1" goto :end
:config_animals
set dog=Max
set cat=Miau
if not "%config_all_selected%"=="1" goto :end
:end
After that, you can use it anywhere by calling fully with 'call config.bat all' or calling only parts of it (see example bellow)
The idea in here is that sometimes is more handy when you have the option not to call everything at once. Some variables maybe you don't want to be called yet so you can call them later.
Example test.bat
#echo off
rem This is added just to test the all parameter
set "test_parameter_all=1st set: The 'all' parameter was NOT used before this echo"
call config.bat size
echo My birthday present had a width of %width% and a height of %height%
call config.bat family
call config.bat animals
echo Yesterday %father% and %mother% surprised %sister% with a cat named %cat%
echo Her brother wanted the dog %dog%
rem This shows you if the 'all' parameter was or not used (just for testing)
echo %test_parameter_all%
call config.bat color
echo His lucky color is %first_color% even if %second_color% is also nice.
echo.
pause
Hope it helps the way others help me in here with their answers.
A short version of the above:
config.bat
#echo off
set config_all_selected=
goto :config_%1
goto :end
:config_all
set config_all_selected=1
:config_family
set mother=Mary
set father=John
set daughter=Anna
if not "%config_all_selected%"=="1" goto :end
:config_size
set width=20
set height=40
if not "%config_all_selected%"=="1" goto :end
:end
test.bat
#echo off
call config.bat size
echo My birthday present had a width of %width% and a height of %height%
call config.bat family
echo %father% and %mother% have a daughter named %daughter%
echo.
pause
Good day.
The best option according to me is to have key/value pairs file as it could be read from other scripting languages.
Other thing is I would prefer to have an option for comments in the values file - which can be easy achieved with eol option in for /f command.
Here's the example
values file:
;;;;;; file with example values ;;;;;;;;
;; Will be processed by a .bat file
;; ';' can be used for commenting a line
First_Value=value001
;;Do not let spaces arround the equal sign
;; As this makes the processing much easier
;; and reliable
Second_Value=%First_Value%_test
;;as call set will be used in reading script
;; refering another variables will be possible.
Third_Value=Something
;;; end
Reading script:
#echo off
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
set "VALUES_FILE=E:\scripts\example.values"
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
FOR /F "usebackq eol=; tokens=* delims=" %%# in (
"%VALUES_FILE%"
) do (
call set "%%#"
)
echo %First_Value% -- %Second_Value% -- %Third_Value%
While trying to use the method with excutable configuration
I noticed that it may work or may NOT work
depending on where in the script is located the call:
call config.cmd
I know it doesn't make any sens, but for me it's a fact.
When "call config.cmd" is located at the top of the
script, it works, but if further in the script it doesn't.
By doesn't work, I mean the variable are not set un the calling script.
Very very strange !!!!