Batch script interpreting content inside comment?
When I run the following batch script:
@echo off
REM %~ will strip surrounding quotes if any
echo HERE
I get the following error:
C:>test.cmd
The following usage of the path operator in batch-parameter
substitution is invalid: %~ will strip surrounding quotes if any
For valid formats type CALL /? or FOR /?
Same effect if REM is changed to ::.
Seems like the parser is ignoring the comment indicator and parsing the %~. If I put a space between the % and ~ then it works fine.
Windows 7 Enterprise (have not checked any other versions).
Seems like a bug to me, but am I missing something?
windows batch-file
edited Nov 21 at 8:25
michael_heath
2,6392616
asked Nov 21 at 0:08
codesniffer
18611
add a comment |
When I run the following batch script:
@echo off
REM %~ will strip surrounding quotes if any
echo HERE
I get the following error:
C:>test.cmd
The following usage of the path operator in batch-parameter
substitution is invalid: %~ will strip surrounding quotes if any
For valid formats type CALL /? or FOR /?
Same effect if REM is changed to ::.
Seems like the parser is ignoring the comment indicator and parsing the %~. If I put a space between the % and ~ then it works fine.
Windows 7 Enterprise (have not checked any other versions).
Seems like a bug to me, but am I missing something?
windows batch-file
edited Nov 21 at 8:25
michael_heath
2,6392616
asked Nov 21 at 0:08
codesniffer
18611
3
I think that happens in an early parsing phase, for details see how-does-the-windows-command-interpreter-cmd-exe-parse-scripts
– LotPings
Nov 21 at 0:59
Wow! Just when I thought Batch couldn't be more brain dead, I learn about this, and find a new low. Sigh...
– codesniffer
Nov 22 at 1:25
add a comment |
When I run the following batch script:
@echo off
REM %~ will strip surrounding quotes if any
echo HERE
I get the following error:
C:>test.cmd
The following usage of the path operator in batch-parameter
substitution is invalid: %~ will strip surrounding quotes if any
For valid formats type CALL /? or FOR /?
Same effect if REM is changed to ::.
Seems like the parser is ignoring the comment indicator and parsing the %~. If I put a space between the % and ~ then it works fine.
Windows 7 Enterprise (have not checked any other versions).
Seems like a bug to me, but am I missing something?
windows batch-file
edited Nov 21 at 8:25
michael_heath
2,6392616
asked Nov 21 at 0:08
codesniffer
18611
When I run the following batch script:
@echo off
REM %~ will strip surrounding quotes if any
echo HERE
I get the following error:
C:>test.cmd
The following usage of the path operator in batch-parameter
substitution is invalid: %~ will strip surrounding quotes if any
For valid formats type CALL /? or FOR /?
Same effect if REM is changed to ::.
Seems like the parser is ignoring the comment indicator and parsing the %~. If I put a space between the % and ~ then it works fine.
Windows 7 Enterprise (have not checked any other versions).
Seems like a bug to me, but am I missing something?
windows batch-file
windows batch-file
edited Nov 21 at 8:25
michael_heath
2,6392616
asked Nov 21 at 0:08
codesniffer
18611
edited Nov 21 at 8:25
michael_heath
2,6392616
asked Nov 21 at 0:08
codesniffer
18611
edited Nov 21 at 8:25
michael_heath
2,6392616
edited Nov 21 at 8:25
michael_heath
2,6392616
edited Nov 21 at 8:25
michael_heath
2,6392616
2,6392616
asked Nov 21 at 0:08
codesniffer
18611
asked Nov 21 at 0:08
codesniffer
18611
asked Nov 21 at 0:08
codesniffer
18611
18611
3
I think that happens in an early parsing phase, for details see how-does-the-windows-command-interpreter-cmd-exe-parse-scripts
– LotPings
Nov 21 at 0:59
Wow! Just when I thought Batch couldn't be more brain dead, I learn about this, and find a new low. Sigh...
– codesniffer
Nov 22 at 1:25
add a comment |
3
I think that happens in an early parsing phase, for details see how-does-the-windows-command-interpreter-cmd-exe-parse-scripts
– LotPings
Nov 21 at 0:59
Wow! Just when I thought Batch couldn't be more brain dead, I learn about this, and find a new low. Sigh...
– codesniffer
Nov 22 at 1:25
3
3
I think that happens in an early parsing phase, for details see how-does-the-windows-command-interpreter-cmd-exe-parse-scripts
– LotPings
Nov 21 at 0:59
I think that happens in an early parsing phase, for details see how-does-the-windows-command-interpreter-cmd-exe-parse-scripts
– LotPings
Nov 21 at 0:59
Wow! Just when I thought Batch couldn't be more brain dead, I learn about this, and find a new low. Sigh...
– codesniffer
Nov 22 at 1:25
Wow! Just when I thought Batch couldn't be more brain dead, I learn about this, and find a new low. Sigh...
– codesniffer
Nov 22 at 1:25
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
The %-expansion, hence expanding normal environment variables (like %VAR%) as well as command line arguments (like %0), is the very first step after having read a line, therefore it happens even before the rem command is recognised. Thus you need to avoid the %~ (by writing rem % + ~ ..., for instance).
Given that the command extensions are enabled, which is the default anyway, %~ is recognised as invalid argument syntax (the ~ is expected to be followed by a decimal digit denoting the argument position or by a valid modifier like f, d, p, n, x, etc.; see Command Line arguments (Parameters)) and results in a fatal error, meaning that an error message is thrown and batch file processing is aborted (the %ErrorLevel% is not set though).
The same effect comes up when you try to do sub-string substitution but specifying an empty search string (like %VAR:=replace% or %VAR:*=replace%, given that VAR is defined), also with command extensions enabled.
See also this thread: How does the Windows Command Interpreter (CMD.EXE) parse scripts?
answered Nov 21 at 1:54
aschipfl
18.1k82654
add a comment |
I think it is clearly covered in quite a few docs that cmd will interpret the arguments before comments, see the example in @LotPings comment as well as @aschiphl's post. That being said, you can momentarily disableextensions and then turn it back on when needed. The below example shows how disabling it will allow you to use it in the REM comment and then enabled again after to show allow extensions:
@echo off
setlocal disableextensions
REM %~ will strip surrounding quotes if any"
endlocal
echo my batch file is %~0
answered Nov 21 at 6:12
Gerhard Barnard
6,91631131
3
Instead ofsetlocal enableextensionsI would useendlocalto return to the former state (default) and to the former environment, thus having the same state as in the original code...
– aschipfl
Nov 21 at 9:01
@aschipfl true yes, I think I just wanted to demonstrate enable and disable, but will change.
– Gerhard Barnard
Nov 21 at 9:18
Thanks for the workaround idea! Considering the extra lines to work around this, I simply used a valid expression there: %~1.
– codesniffer
Nov 22 at 1:27
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
The %-expansion, hence expanding normal environment variables (like %VAR%) as well as command line arguments (like %0), is the very first step after having read a line, therefore it happens even before the rem command is recognised. Thus you need to avoid the %~ (by writing rem % + ~ ..., for instance).
Given that the command extensions are enabled, which is the default anyway, %~ is recognised as invalid argument syntax (the ~ is expected to be followed by a decimal digit denoting the argument position or by a valid modifier like f, d, p, n, x, etc.; see Command Line arguments (Parameters)) and results in a fatal error, meaning that an error message is thrown and batch file processing is aborted (the %ErrorLevel% is not set though).
The same effect comes up when you try to do sub-string substitution but specifying an empty search string (like %VAR:=replace% or %VAR:*=replace%, given that VAR is defined), also with command extensions enabled.
See also this thread: How does the Windows Command Interpreter (CMD.EXE) parse scripts?
answered Nov 21 at 1:54
aschipfl
18.1k82654
add a comment |
The %-expansion, hence expanding normal environment variables (like %VAR%) as well as command line arguments (like %0), is the very first step after having read a line, therefore it happens even before the rem command is recognised. Thus you need to avoid the %~ (by writing rem % + ~ ..., for instance).
Given that the command extensions are enabled, which is the default anyway, %~ is recognised as invalid argument syntax (the ~ is expected to be followed by a decimal digit denoting the argument position or by a valid modifier like f, d, p, n, x, etc.; see Command Line arguments (Parameters)) and results in a fatal error, meaning that an error message is thrown and batch file processing is aborted (the %ErrorLevel% is not set though).
The same effect comes up when you try to do sub-string substitution but specifying an empty search string (like %VAR:=replace% or %VAR:*=replace%, given that VAR is defined), also with command extensions enabled.
See also this thread: How does the Windows Command Interpreter (CMD.EXE) parse scripts?
answered Nov 21 at 1:54
aschipfl
18.1k82654
add a comment |
The %-expansion, hence expanding normal environment variables (like %VAR%) as well as command line arguments (like %0), is the very first step after having read a line, therefore it happens even before the rem command is recognised. Thus you need to avoid the %~ (by writing rem % + ~ ..., for instance).
Given that the command extensions are enabled, which is the default anyway, %~ is recognised as invalid argument syntax (the ~ is expected to be followed by a decimal digit denoting the argument position or by a valid modifier like f, d, p, n, x, etc.; see Command Line arguments (Parameters)) and results in a fatal error, meaning that an error message is thrown and batch file processing is aborted (the %ErrorLevel% is not set though).
The same effect comes up when you try to do sub-string substitution but specifying an empty search string (like %VAR:=replace% or %VAR:*=replace%, given that VAR is defined), also with command extensions enabled.
See also this thread: How does the Windows Command Interpreter (CMD.EXE) parse scripts?
answered Nov 21 at 1:54
aschipfl
18.1k82654
The %-expansion, hence expanding normal environment variables (like %VAR%) as well as command line arguments (like %0), is the very first step after having read a line, therefore it happens even before the rem command is recognised. Thus you need to avoid the %~ (by writing rem % + ~ ..., for instance).
Given that the command extensions are enabled, which is the default anyway, %~ is recognised as invalid argument syntax (the ~ is expected to be followed by a decimal digit denoting the argument position or by a valid modifier like f, d, p, n, x, etc.; see Command Line arguments (Parameters)) and results in a fatal error, meaning that an error message is thrown and batch file processing is aborted (the %ErrorLevel% is not set though).
The same effect comes up when you try to do sub-string substitution but specifying an empty search string (like %VAR:=replace% or %VAR:*=replace%, given that VAR is defined), also with command extensions enabled.
See also this thread: How does the Windows Command Interpreter (CMD.EXE) parse scripts?
answered Nov 21 at 1:54
aschipfl
18.1k82654
edited Nov 21 at 9:07
answered Nov 21 at 1:54
aschipfl
18.1k82654
answered Nov 21 at 1:54
aschipfl
18.1k82654
answered Nov 21 at 1:54
aschipfl
18.1k82654
18.1k82654
add a comment |
add a comment |
I think it is clearly covered in quite a few docs that cmd will interpret the arguments before comments, see the example in @LotPings comment as well as @aschiphl's post. That being said, you can momentarily disableextensions and then turn it back on when needed. The below example shows how disabling it will allow you to use it in the REM comment and then enabled again after to show allow extensions:
@echo off
setlocal disableextensions
REM %~ will strip surrounding quotes if any"
endlocal
echo my batch file is %~0
answered Nov 21 at 6:12
Gerhard Barnard
6,91631131
3
Instead ofsetlocal enableextensionsI would useendlocalto return to the former state (default) and to the former environment, thus having the same state as in the original code...
– aschipfl
Nov 21 at 9:01
@aschipfl true yes, I think I just wanted to demonstrate enable and disable, but will change.
– Gerhard Barnard
Nov 21 at 9:18
Thanks for the workaround idea! Considering the extra lines to work around this, I simply used a valid expression there: %~1.
– codesniffer
Nov 22 at 1:27
add a comment |
I think it is clearly covered in quite a few docs that cmd will interpret the arguments before comments, see the example in @LotPings comment as well as @aschiphl's post. That being said, you can momentarily disableextensions and then turn it back on when needed. The below example shows how disabling it will allow you to use it in the REM comment and then enabled again after to show allow extensions:
@echo off
setlocal disableextensions
REM %~ will strip surrounding quotes if any"
endlocal
echo my batch file is %~0
answered Nov 21 at 6:12
Gerhard Barnard
6,91631131
3
Instead ofsetlocal enableextensionsI would useendlocalto return to the former state (default) and to the former environment, thus having the same state as in the original code...
– aschipfl
Nov 21 at 9:01
@aschipfl true yes, I think I just wanted to demonstrate enable and disable, but will change.
– Gerhard Barnard
Nov 21 at 9:18
Thanks for the workaround idea! Considering the extra lines to work around this, I simply used a valid expression there: %~1.
– codesniffer
Nov 22 at 1:27
add a comment |
I think it is clearly covered in quite a few docs that cmd will interpret the arguments before comments, see the example in @LotPings comment as well as @aschiphl's post. That being said, you can momentarily disableextensions and then turn it back on when needed. The below example shows how disabling it will allow you to use it in the REM comment and then enabled again after to show allow extensions:
@echo off
setlocal disableextensions
REM %~ will strip surrounding quotes if any"
endlocal
echo my batch file is %~0
answered Nov 21 at 6:12
Gerhard Barnard
6,91631131
I think it is clearly covered in quite a few docs that cmd will interpret the arguments before comments, see the example in @LotPings comment as well as @aschiphl's post. That being said, you can momentarily disableextensions and then turn it back on when needed. The below example shows how disabling it will allow you to use it in the REM comment and then enabled again after to show allow extensions:
@echo off
setlocal disableextensions
REM %~ will strip surrounding quotes if any"
endlocal
echo my batch file is %~0
answered Nov 21 at 6:12
Gerhard Barnard
6,91631131
edited Nov 21 at 9:18
answered Nov 21 at 6:12
Gerhard Barnard
6,91631131
answered Nov 21 at 6:12
Gerhard Barnard
6,91631131
answered Nov 21 at 6:12
Gerhard Barnard
6,91631131
6,91631131
3
Instead ofsetlocal enableextensionsI would useendlocalto return to the former state (default) and to the former environment, thus having the same state as in the original code...
– aschipfl
Nov 21 at 9:01
@aschipfl true yes, I think I just wanted to demonstrate enable and disable, but will change.
– Gerhard Barnard
Nov 21 at 9:18
Thanks for the workaround idea! Considering the extra lines to work around this, I simply used a valid expression there: %~1.
– codesniffer
Nov 22 at 1:27
add a comment |
3
Instead ofsetlocal enableextensionsI would useendlocalto return to the former state (default) and to the former environment, thus having the same state as in the original code...
– aschipfl
Nov 21 at 9:01
@aschipfl true yes, I think I just wanted to demonstrate enable and disable, but will change.
– Gerhard Barnard
Nov 21 at 9:18
Thanks for the workaround idea! Considering the extra lines to work around this, I simply used a valid expression there: %~1.
– codesniffer
Nov 22 at 1:27
3
3
Instead of
setlocal enableextensions I would use endlocal to return to the former state (default) and to the former environment, thus having the same state as in the original code...– aschipfl
Nov 21 at 9:01
Instead of
setlocal enableextensions I would use endlocal to return to the former state (default) and to the former environment, thus having the same state as in the original code...– aschipfl
Nov 21 at 9:01
@aschipfl true yes, I think I just wanted to demonstrate enable and disable, but will change.
– Gerhard Barnard
Nov 21 at 9:18
@aschipfl true yes, I think I just wanted to demonstrate enable and disable, but will change.
– Gerhard Barnard
Nov 21 at 9:18
Thanks for the workaround idea! Considering the extra lines to work around this, I simply used a valid expression there: %~1.
– codesniffer
Nov 22 at 1:27
Thanks for the workaround idea! Considering the extra lines to work around this, I simply used a valid expression there: %~1.
– codesniffer
Nov 22 at 1:27
add a comment |
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3
I think that happens in an early parsing phase, for details see how-does-the-windows-command-interpreter-cmd-exe-parse-scripts
– LotPings
Nov 21 at 0:59
Wow! Just when I thought Batch couldn't be more brain dead, I learn about this, and find a new low. Sigh...
– codesniffer
Nov 22 at 1:25