CODEWITHSUNDEEP
batch-file
user1883859
user1883859

Reputation: 11

Spaces in a Directory/Filename that is used in a Batch Script For Statement

Why does this batch script work...

@echo off
for /F %%a in ('dir /b F:\Temp\*.txt') do set TestFileName=%%~nxa 
echo %FileName%
pause

But this one does not...

@echo off
for /F "usebackq" %%a in ('dir /b "F:\Temp Folder\*.txt"') do set TestFileName=%%~nxa 
echo %FileName%
pause

I know that it has something to do with the double quotes that I am using due to the spaces in the folder name. But even after hours of searching the web and reading countless posts that are similar, I can't for the life of me figure out how to fix it. And it is driving me CRAZY!!!

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

Upvotes: 1

Views: 2748

Answers (1)

Aacini
Aacini

Reputation: 67216

Three points here:

1- As "usebackq" imply: Use Back Quotes for command execution, so you must put ` instead of '.

2- Independently of the above, this code:

@echo off
for /F "usebackq" %%a in (`dir /b "F:\Temp Folder\*.txt"`) do set TestFileName=%%~nxa 
echo %FileName%
pause

does NOT work either, because the shown variable FileName is NOT the same of the FOR command: TestFileName.

3- I strongly suggest you to NOT use a FOR /F command that execute another command (like DIR) if the base capabilities of simple FOR are enough for your needs. For example:

@echo off
for %%a in ("F:\Temp Folder\*.txt") do set TestFileName=%%~nxa 
echo %TestFileName%
pause

Previous code is not just easier to write and understand, but it run faster also.

Finally: previous code "works" in the sense that display just the last file name. If you want to display all names via a variable, then a different approach must be used.

I hope it helps...

Antonio

Upvotes: 1

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