How do I escape ampersands in batch file function parameter?

Question

This is continuation on question How do I escape ampersands in batch files?.

That question presents some ways to use ampersands in batch files. However, it would seem none of those work for function parameters. Example:

@echo off
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion

call:myFunction "http://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=escape+ampersand"

goto:eof

:myFunction
echo Param is: %~1
goto:eof

I would always get

Param is: http://www.google.com/search?client=opera
'q' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

I've tried ^ to escape it and that doesn't seem to work either. Is there a way?

If it matters, my actual use case is supplying a download URL to wget which is called within a batch function.

I am also having the same problem, will apply your solution now and see. — Haris ur Rehman, Aug 12 '15 at 17:44
@MichaelFreidgeim isn't it already explained in the beginning of the question why this isn't a duplicate? None of the answers there work by themselves - what was needed was quotes *inside the function as well*, not just in the original call. — eis, Sep 05 '16 at 06:05

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited Nov 02 '18 at 19:08

2

Feeling a bit silly now...

@echo off
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion

call:myFunction "http://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=escape+ampersand"

goto:eof

:myFunction
echo Parameter is: "%~1"
goto:eof

Result:

Parameter is: "http://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=escape+ampersand"

edited Nov 02 '18 at 19:08

Peter Mortensen

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answered Dec 24 '12 at 12:43

eis

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1

what did you change? – SketchBookGames Feb 05 '16 at 17:46
1

@SketchBookGames added quotes to my "Param is" printing – eis Feb 05 '16 at 19:09
What if you don't want the double quotes printed, though? – Minix Dec 06 '17 at 16:31

score 1 · Answer 2 · edited Nov 02 '18 at 19:09

1

^& is the correct way to escape, but it isn't usually needed in double quotes.

Source: Escape Characters

edited Nov 02 '18 at 19:09

Peter Mortensen

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answered Dec 26 '12 at 16:14

Patrick Meinecke

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How do I escape ampersands in batch file function parameter?

2 Answers2