How to escape the `@` variable replacement in `forfiles`?

Question

I am using a forfiles command line like this (Windows 7 x64):

forfiles /P "C:\root" /M "*.txt" /C "cmd /C echo @relpath"

How can I escape the replacement of @relpath (relative path to currently iterated item) to get @relpath output literally? (...or any other @ variable?)

So far I tried the following things, without success:

\: the @ seems to be handled before \ so \@relpath does not work, rather the expanded output is just preceded with \;
^: stating ^@ does not show any effect except that the ^ disappears; writing ^^@ does not help eigher, one ^ remains in the expanded output then;
0xHH: surprisingly (to me), the forfiles-specific replacement of hexacecimal numbers 0x40 does not work either, it seems that this is done prior to variable parsing;
@@: doubling the @ keeps the first @ literally, that is it;

jeb · Answer 1 · 2015-09-04T16:34:17.807

3

You could use a delayed expansion

forfiles /P "C:\temp" /M "st*.txt" /C "cmd /v:on /C set r=0x40 & echo !r:~0,1!relpath"

Or you can use percent expansion.

set percent=%
set at=@
forfiles /P "C:\temp" /M "st*.txt" /C "cmd /C echo %percent%at%percent%relpath"

edited Sep 04 '15 at 16:34

answered Sep 04 '15 at 16:26

jeb

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Great approach! in the first option, if you omit the space after `set r=0x40` or if you enclose it in `()`, a simple expansion like `!r!` works as well... – aschipfl Sep 04 '15 at 17:13

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 04 '15 at 17:16

2

I just found an even easier method:

forfiles /P "C:\root" /M "*.txt" /C "cmd /C echo @^relpath"

Note the ^ after the @ sign.

answered Sep 04 '15 at 17:16

aschipfl

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This seems to be the best method – jeb Sep 04 '15 at 17:34

How to escape the `@` variable replacement in `forfiles`?

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