CODEWITHSUNDEEP
windowsbatch-file
code_fodder
code_fodder

Reputation: 16341

how do I retrieve a value after using setx?

I need to store a value (a time stamp) and retrieve it later in batch files. So I have searched SO for answers on how to store a persistent variable and found setx.

I used it like this:

C:\tmp>setx TIME_VAR %time%

SUCCESS: Specified value was saved.

But when I try to print it with echo it is not there:

C:\tmp>echo TIME_VAR
TIME_VAR

C:\tmp>echo %TIME_VAR%
%TIME_VAR%

How do I retrieve my stored value?

Upvotes: 20

Views: 13079

Answers (3)

qknight
qknight

Reputation: 924

I used the graphical UI "Edit the system environment variables" in the "Environment Variables..." section to view and delete the entries I set using setx. This way I was also able to verify that the setx is actually updating the variables.

Have a look at these two threads:

I was not able to view the values on the cmd nor powershell using this command either:

echo %GOPROXY%
%GOPROXY%

In my case the echo binary points to:

which echo
/usr/bin/echo

And it is not the same command as is described with

man echo

My guess is that this came with the git installation.

For me the proposed setx /? did not work either:

setx GOPROXY ""
ERROR: Invalid syntax.
Type "SETX /?" for usage.

Upvotes: 1

Io-oI
Io-oI

Reputation: 2565

After using setx, you don't need to wait to reboot or get in a new instance/session to be able to get/use this value. this value can be read in Windows Register:

In your case: 

setx TIME_VAR %time%

for /f "tokens=3 delims=^ " %%i in ('reg query HKCU\Environment ^| findstr /i /c:"TIME_VAR"') do  echo/%%i

setx TIME_VAR %time%

for /f "tokens=3 delims=^ " %%i in ('reg query HKCU\Environment ^| findstr /i /c:"TIME_VAR"') do  (

echo/ local and next session  = = = =  
echo/ Setx Reg Value = "%%i" 

echo/ local and next session  = = = =  
echo/ TIME_VAR  Value = %%i

:eof

result: 

 :: local and next session  = = = = 
 Setx Reg Value = 13:32:05,15

 :: in same session and also in next
 TIME_VAR Value = 13:32:05,15

Upvotes: 1

Loïc MICHEL
Loïc MICHEL

Reputation: 26150

from the doc (setx /? )

Because SETX writes variables to the master environment in the registry, edits will only take effect when a new command window is opened - they do not affect the current CMD or PowerShell session.

Upvotes: 9

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