ROBOCOPY changes input path names and does not work

Question

This is the code I have:

set thisfolder=%~dp0%
echo %thisfolder%

ROBOCOPY "%thisfolder%" "F:\batch testing\test\" copyself.bat

However the issue presents itself here:

F:\batch testing>set thisfolder=F:\batch testing\

F:\batch testing>echo F:\batch testing\
F:\batch testing\

F:\batch testing>ROBOCOPY "F:\batch testing\" "F:\batch testing\test\" copyself.bat

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   ROBOCOPY     ::     Robust File Copy for Windows
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Started : Monday, March 5, 2018 7:26:54 AM
   Source : F:\batch testing" F:\batch\
     Dest : F:\batch testing\testing\test"\

    Files : copyself.bat

  Options : /DCOPY:DA /COPY:DAT /R:1000000 /W:30

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2018/03/05 07:26:54 ERROR 123 (0x0000007B) Accessing Source Directory F:\batch testing" F:\batch\
The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.

The source and destination paths seem distorted. Anyone know what's up with that?

[Different problem](https://stackoverflow.com/q/25840861/2861476) but [same reason](https://stackoverflow.com/a/25841519/2861476). The ending backslash is escaping the closing quote. — MC ND, Mar 05 '18 at 20:17

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 05 '18 at 16:42

2

The issue was simple.

ROBOCOPY "F:\batch testing\"

should have been

ROBOCOPY "F:\batch testing"

Robocopy is extremely fickle...

answered Mar 05 '18 at 16:42

servicecli

95
9

Compo · Answer 2 · 2018-03-06T12:45:53.020

Given that your running script directory is also the current directory, I'd suggest changing %~dp0%, (which should really have been %~dp0), to %CD%.

Also, (as you've noticed), there should be no need to add a trailing backslash to your directory paths.

In fact if you're only copying the running script itself, then I suppose it could just contain:

@RoboCopy "%CD%" "%CD%\test" "%~nx0"

Or if running it from another location:

Either:

@Start "" /D"%~dp0" "Cmd /C RoboCopy . .\test "%~nx0""

Or:

@Start "" /D"%~dp0" "%__AppDir__%RoboCopy.exe" . .\test "%~nx0"

ROBOCOPY changes input path names and does not work

2 Answers2