CODEWITHSUNDEEP
batch-file
Yair Nevet
Yair Nevet

Reputation: 13003

How to pass a list of strings to a batch-script as a parameter?

My batch script is used to process a list of strings and I would like to parameterize it so it will accept this list as a parameter from the user.

This is how my code is processing this list currently:

set QUEUES=cars plans others
FOR %%q IN (%QUEUES%) DO Call :defineQueues %%q

How should I pass this list to the QUEUES varibale as a parameter?

For example, how should I pass it to this script:

myScript.bat ?

Upvotes: 8

Views: 22238

Answers (5)

Cary
Cary

Reputation: 404

If you want to let your script be used in this way:

myScript.bat "cars plans others"

You can try to program in this way:

setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion

set string_of_strings = (%~1) // %1 is: "cars plans others", %~1" is: cars plans others", (%~1) is: (cars plans others)
for %%i in %string_of_strings% do echo %%i%NL%

The key is, %1 is of string but string_of_strings is kind of string[].

Upvotes: 0

Vinita Gupta
Vinita Gupta

Reputation: 113

You can call it as myScript.bat %QUEUES% and you can use below code to fetch it in your myScript.bat :

setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
FOR %%q in (!%1!) DO echo %%q

Upvotes: 0

Aacini
Aacini

Reputation: 67216

Excuse me. I read this question and I can't resist the temptation of clarify a couple points about it.

A Batch file usually receive several words as parameters, like these ones:

myScript.bat cars plans others

Previous Batch file receive 3 parameters that may be processed via %1, %2 and %3 in the usual way. If you want that a single parameter receive several words, all of them must be enclosed in quotes:

myScript.bat "cars plans others"

Previous Batch file receive one parameter that contain several words that may be processed via %1. Note that the following lines are exactly the same than previous examples:

set QUEUES=cars plans others
myScript.bat %QUEUES%

Previous Batch file receive 3 parameters, and:

myScript.bat "%QUEUES%"

... previous Batch file receive one parameter.

A list is a variable that contain several values separated by spaces, like this one:

set QUEUES=cars plans others

You may pass this list to the Batch file as parameter this way:

myScript.bat QUEUES

Previous Batch file receive one parameter that is a list variable. To process the values of the list in myScript.bat, use this method:

setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
FOR %%q in (!%1!) DO echo %%q

An array is a variable comprised of several elements identified by a numeric subscript, like this one:

set NAMES[1]=cars
set NAMES[2]=plans
set NAMES[3]=others

An array usually have a simple way to know the number of elements in it; for example:

set NAMES.length=3

You may pass this array of strings to the Batch file as parameter this way:

myScript.bat NAMES

Previous Batch file receive one parameter that is an array. To process the elements of the array in myScript.bat, use this method:

setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
FOR /L %%i in (1,1,!%1.length!) DO echo !%1[%%i]!

Upvotes: 2

Rubik
Rubik

Reputation: 1471

You have to enclose your string with quotes:

myScript.bat "cars plans others"

Then %1 will be equals to "cars plans others"

Or %~1% to remove the quotes and only get cars plans others

Otherwise, you will get 3 different parameter values:

myScript.bat cars plans others

%1 => cars
%2 => plans
%3 => others

Upvotes: 17

Moshe Rubin
Moshe Rubin

Reputation: 1982

Alternatively, if you only pass your QUEUES values on the command line, you can use the %* batch file operator, which is a wildcard reference to all the arguments on the line.

@echo off
FOR %%q IN (%*) DO echo %%q

Executing the batch file as follows:

x.bat cars plans others

gives the output:

C:\junk>x.bat cars plans others
cars
plans
others

C:\junk>

If you pass any other arguments on the command together with the QUEUES elements, it is not that simple to 'shift' the other arguments out.

Upvotes: 1

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