FOR /F and delims=\ string processing

[gwh...@ti.com]

Hi,

In a batch file, I want to assign a variable as a string with the current directory stripped of the parent directories.

Say I am "in" (batch file doesn't know where it is run from):

C:\a\b\c\d

I want to set a variable to d.

If I do

set x=%cd%
echo %x%

Then the command screen shows:

C:\a\b\c\d


I tried various ways of FOR /F with delims=\ to strip off all but "d", but I can't figure it out.

I'm a hack when it comes to batch files. Does anyone know how to do this?

(I am trying to use it on Win7 command line at the moment.)

Thanks!

[foxidrive]

On 13/08/2013 10:56, gwh...@ti.com wrote:

> In a batch file, I want to assign a variable as a string with the current directory stripped of the parent directories.
>
> Say I am "in" (batch file doesn't know where it is run from):
>
> C:\a\b\c\d
>
> I want to set a variable to d.
>
> If I do
>
> set x=%cd%
> echo %x%
>
> Then the command screen shows:
>
> C:\a\b\c\d

Try this:

@echo off
for /f "delims=" %%a in ("%cd%\.") do set "folder=%%~nxa"


--
foxi

[gwh...@ti.com]

Oh, thank you very much! Fantastic.

I kind of see what it does. With 20-20 hindsight, some of it almost appears obvious. Isn't that always the way?

To me, it seems that the parsing part of the FOR "engine" only sees it as a string. That means it does not know if "d" is a file or a folder, so one can simply extract a folder name by using file syntax. It would be the same if the folder or file name was "d.x". (It has an extension.)


The part I don't quite get in this is the "\." suffix. Once you got me on the right track, I tried all these "in (...)" combos and got the same results for all:

for /f "delims=" %%G in ("%cd%\.") do set "folder=%%~nxG"
echo.
echo %%cd%%\. %folder%
echo.
for /f "delims=" %%G in ("%cd%.") do set "folder=%%~nxG"
echo.
echo %%cd%%. %folder%
echo.
for /f "delims=" %%G in ("%cd%") do set "folder=%%~nxG"
echo.

The syntax for all of the above work whether the directory is "d" or "d.x"

For me trying to understand the command line, I ask what does the "\." suffix do?

I also noticed I can eliminate "delims=" and get the same results for that path. But it breaks if there are spaces (like C:\a\b\c c\d), so I am I right that "delims=" sets the delimiter to "nothing?" (Meaning, there are no delimiters, take the whole string.)

Thanks again.

[Todd Vargo]

On 8/14/2013 2:39 PM, gwh...@ti.com wrote:

> To me, it seems that the parsing part of the FOR "engine" only sees it as a string. That means it does not know if "d" is a file or a folder, so one can simply extract a folder name by using file syntax. It would be the same if the folder or file name was "d.x". (It has an extension.)
>
>
> The part I don't quite get in this is the "\." suffix. Once you got me on the right track, I tried all these "in (...)" combos and got the same results for all:
>
> for /f "delims=" %%G in ("%cd%\.") do set "folder=%%~nxG"
> echo.
> echo %%cd%%\. %folder%
> echo.
> for /f "delims=" %%G in ("%cd%.") do set "folder=%%~nxG"
> echo.
> echo %%cd%%. %folder%
> echo.
> for /f "delims=" %%G in ("%cd%") do set "folder=%%~nxG"
> echo.
>
> The syntax for all of the above work whether the directory is "d" or "d.x"
>
> For me trying to understand the command line, I ask what does the "\." suffix do?
>
> I also noticed I can eliminate "delims=" and get the same results for that path. But it breaks if there are spaces (like C:\a\b\c c\d), so I am I right that "delims=" sets the delimiter to "nothing?" (Meaning, there are no delimiters, take the whole string.)

The \. does not do anything in this case and can be omitted. In a
general sense, it refers to the current folder which is already provided
by the %cd% variable. And you are correct about the purpose for "delims=".

Type FOR/? at the prompt for further information.

--
Todd Vargo
(Post questions to group only. Remove "z" to email personal messages)

[foxidrive]

On 15/08/2013 07:40, Todd Vargo wrote:

>> For me trying to understand the command line, I ask what does the "\." suffix do?

Thanks Todd, for supplying the answers. The \. sets the current folder at the end of the path, for when
the path has a trailing \ so that it then also returns the correct folder.

>> I also noticed I can eliminate "delims=" and get the same results for that path. But it breaks if there are spaces (like C:\a\b\c c\d), so I am I right that "delims=" sets the delimiter to "nothing?" (Meaning, there are no delimiters, take the whole string.)
>
> The \. does not do anything in this case and can be omitted. In a
> general sense, it refers to the current folder which is already provided
> by the %cd% variable. And you are correct about the purpose for "delims=".
>
> Type FOR/? at the prompt for further information.
>


--

foxi

[Todd Vargo]

On 8/14/2013 8:05 PM, foxidrive wrote:
> On 15/08/2013 07:40, Todd Vargo wrote:
>
>>> For me trying to understand the command line, I ask what does the "\." suffix do?
>
> Thanks Todd, for supplying the answers. The \. sets the current folder at the end of the path, for when
> the path has a trailing \ so that it then also returns the correct folder.

AFAIK, the only time %cd% returns a trailing \ is when the root folder
is current. Are there other instances?

>
>
>>> I also noticed I can eliminate "delims=" and get the same results for that path. But it breaks if there are spaces (like C:\a\b\c c\d), so I am I right that "delims=" sets the delimiter to "nothing?" (Meaning, there are no delimiters, take the whole string.)
>>
>> The \. does not do anything in this case and can be omitted. In a
>> general sense, it refers to the current folder which is already provided
>> by the %cd% variable. And you are correct about the purpose for "delims=".
>>
>> Type FOR/? at the prompt for further information.
>>
>
>


--

[foxidrive]

On 15/08/2013 13:46, Todd Vargo wrote:
> On 8/14/2013 8:05 PM, foxidrive wrote:
>> On 15/08/2013 07:40, Todd Vargo wrote:
>>
>>>> For me trying to understand the command line, I ask what does the "\." suffix do?
>>
>> Thanks Todd, for supplying the answers. The \. sets the current folder at the end of the path, for when
>> the path has a trailing \ so that it then also returns the correct folder.
>
> AFAIK, the only time %cd% returns a trailing \ is when the root folder
> is current. Are there other instances?

No, you are quite right that it was not needed in this instance. I was clarifying that it was just there
because it always works, and fixes the times when it is needed.


--
foxi