Batch file - Variables in Variables

Question

I've used a for loop to split a string by spaces. I've also used a loop to make each word in its own variable such as var1=this, var2=is, var3=a, var4=test. That looks like "set var!count! = %%A"

That works. I just need to recall it. How do I do that? Logically, I think it would look like this: %var%count%%

Can someone explain to me how to get that? If I have the 'count' 1, what do I do to get "var1"?

See http://stackoverflow.com/questions/17605767/create-list-or-arrays-in-windows-batch — Sualeh Fatehi, Aug 17 '14 at 04:20
I'm getting ECHO is off still... I did the same thing from the link. — Jack Daniels, Aug 17 '14 at 04:30
See: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/10166386/arrays-linked-lists-and-other-data-structures-in-cmd-exe-batch-script/10167990#10167990 — Aacini, Aug 17 '14 at 04:45

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 17 '14 at 05:07

2

There is an easy way, you'll need to enable the delayed expansion, so first of all place setlocal enabledelayedexpansion, then use exclamation marks to access these variables. Your script should look like this:

@echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
:: Here comes your loops to set the variables
echo/!var%count%!

answered Aug 17 '14 at 05:07

Rafael

3,042
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1

One can do some useful stuff this way, like truncating strings `GOPATH=!WD:%WD:*\src=\src%=!`. – Vlastimil Ovčáčík Aug 17 '14 at 10:54

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 17 '14 at 07:29

0

When going through arrays in batch just use for /l:

@echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
var0 = A
var1 = B
var2 = C
var3 = D
var4 = E

for /l %%a in (0, 1, 4) do (
Echo var%%a = !var%%a!
)

Output:

var0 = A
var1 = B
var2 = C
var3 = D
var4 = E

answered Aug 17 '14 at 07:29

Monacraft

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score 0 · Answer 3 · 2020-04-22T01:25:21.033

0

I don't see why you would need to do that. What you are looking for seems to be an array variable. You could solve the issue with:

set variable=this;is;a;test
for %%a in (%variable%) do (echo %%a)

For each value you want separate it with a ";" The output of this code will be:

this
is
a
test

edited Apr 22 '20 at 01:25

answered Apr 21 '20 at 01:20

(that's a list, not an array). What if you need the third element only? – Stephan Apr 21 '20 at 10:16
It is also called an array, but indeed you are correct in questioning this since the only real way to get a certain value would be to make a for command with for %%i in (variable) do (%var2%+=1&if %var2% equ [number] echo %var2% – Apr 21 '20 at 15:32
Another way you could do this which I personally like less is to use variablename and then [number] like set var[1]=1 && set var[2]=2 etc. – Apr 21 '20 at 15:34

score -1 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 17 '14 at 04:31

If you want to print out the contents of var1 outside the for statement use

  Echo %var1%

To print out the contents of var1 inside the block first , delayed expansion needs to be enabled and instead of enclosing the variable references with percent signs , you use

   Echo !var1!

Batch file - Variables in Variables

4 Answers4

Output: