How to pass argument in batch file

Question

I am trying to make a path directory generic for all users using batch file. The code generates a popup and it asks the user to input the folder. The directory is echoed on the terminal. I am trying to pass the this output directory as an argument in another function 'folder' so that the application starts running. But I am not able to pass the argument.

@echo off
Title Browse4Folder
Color 0A
Call :Browse4Folder "Choose source folder to scan" "c:\scripts"
echo You have chosen this location "%Location%"
pause & exit
::***************************************************************************
:Browse4Folder
set Location=
set vbs="%temp%\_.vbs"
set cmd="%temp%\_.cmd"
for %%f in (%vbs% %cmd%) do if exist %%f del %%f
for %%g in ("vbs cmd") do if defined %%g set %%g=
(
    echo set shell=WScript.CreateObject("Shell.Application"^) 
    echo set f=shell.BrowseForFolder(0,"%~1",0,"%~2"^) 
    echo if typename(f^)="Nothing" Then  
    echo wscript.echo "set Location=Dialog Cancelled" 
    echo WScript.Quit(1^)
    echo end if 
    echo set fs=f.Items(^):set fi=fs.Item(^) 
    echo p=fi.Path:wscript.echo "set Location=" ^& p
)>%vbs%
cscript //nologo %vbs% > %cmd%
for /f "delims=" %%a in (%cmd%) do %%a
for %%f in (%vbs% %cmd%) do if exist %%f del /f /q %%f
for %%g in ("vbs cmd") do if defined %%g set %%g=
PAUSE


Call :Folder Location
:Folder
Set T32_PATH=%Location%
ECHO T32_PATH=%Location%


cd ..\Appl
START %Location%\t32mtc.exe -c ..\cm3550a_vecm\vlab_mcd.t32 -s ..\cm3550a_vecm\vlab_mcd_config.cmm
ECHO T32_PATH=%Location%
PAUSE

I have to pass the argument to line START %Location%\t32mtc.exe -c ..\cm3550a_vecm\vlab_mcd.t32 -s ..\cm3550a_vecm\vlab_mcd_config.cmm How shall I do it.

Answer 1

To use a GUI dialog box for the end user to provide their T32 directory, I'd choose to leverage either PowerShell, JScript, or (your chosen) VBScript.

Here's a quick and basic example of each, (none of which write to files):

batch-file leveraging powershell:

@Set "T32_PATH="
@For /F Delims^=^ EOL^= %%G In ('^"
    "%SystemRoot%\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe" -NoProfile ^
     "(New-Object -COM 'Shell.Application').BrowseForFolder(0,'Select your T32 directory.',1,0).Self.Path"
^"') Do @If Exist "%%G\t32mtc.exe" Set "T32_PATH=%%G"
@If Defined T32_PATH Start "" "%T32_PATH%\t32mtc.exe" …

batch-file leveraging jscript:

0</* :
@Set "T32_PATH="
@For /F "Delims=" %%G In (
    '""%SystemRoot%\System32\cscript.exe" //E:JScript //NoLogo "%~f0" 2>Nul|Find /V """'
) Do @If Exist "%%G\t32mtc.exe" Set "T32_PATH=%%G"
@If Defined T32_PATH Start "" "%T32_PATH%\t32mtc.exe" …

@Exit /B */0;
var Folder=new ActiveXObject('Shell.Application').BrowseForFolder(0,'Select your T32 directory.',1,'0');
try{new ActiveXObject('Scripting.FileSystemObject').GetStandardStream(1).Write(Folder.Self.Path)};catch(e){};close();

batch-file leveraging vbscript:

<!-- :
@Set "T32_PATH="
@For /F "Delims=" %%G In (
    '"%SystemRoot%\System32\cscript.exe //NoLogo "%~f0?.wsf" 2>Nul|Find /V """'
) Do @If Exist "%%G\t32mtc.exe" Set "T32_PATH=%%G"
@If Defined T32_PATH Start "" "%T32_PATH%\t32mtc.exe" …

@Exit /B
-->
<Job><Script Language="VBScript">
Set objFolder = CreateObject("Shell.Application").BrowseForFolder(0,"Select your T32 directory.",1,0)
WScript.Echo objFolder.Self.Path
</Script></Job>

---

To hopefully better show you that the methodology doesn't change, here's an example which uses something more like the structure of your posted example.

<!-- :
@Echo Off
SetLocal EnableExtensions DisabledelayedExpansion
Title Browse4Folder
Color 0A

:GetT32Parent
Set "T32_FILE=t32mtc.exe"
Set "T32_PATH="
Call :Browse4Folder "Select your T32 directory." "C:\scripts" "T32_PATH"
If Not Defined T32_PATH (Echo Error: Please try again.
    Pause
    GoTo GetT32Parent)
If Not Exist "%T32_PATH%\%T32_FILE%" (
    Echo The chosen directory does not contain %T32_FILE%.
    Echo Error: Please try again.
    Pause
    GoTo GetT32Parent)
Echo You have chosen this location "%T32_PATH%"
Pause
Rem Your T32 based code goes here.
Start "" "%T32_PATH%\%T32_FILE%" … 

Rem Any other code goes here.

Exit /B

:Browse4Folder
If "%~3" == "" (Set "sVariable=location") Else Set "sVariable=%~3"
If "%~2" == "" (Set "vRootFolder=%CD%") Else Set "vRootFolder=%~2"
If "%~1" == "" (Set "sTitle=Please select your directory.") Else Set "sTitle=%~1"
Set "%sVariable%="
For /F "Delims=" %%G In ('%SystemRoot%\System32\cscript.exe //NoLogo "%~f0?.wsf"
 "%sTitle%" "%vRootFolder%" 2^>Nul') Do Set "%sVariable%=%%G"
GoTo :EOF
-->
<Job><Script Language="VBScript">
Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application")
Set objFolder = objShell.BrowseForFolder(0,WScript.Arguments.Item(0),0,WScript.Arguments.Item(1))
WScript.Echo objFolder.Self.Path
</Script></Job>