How to split string without for loop in batch file

Question

I want to split a string in two parts, without using any for loop.

For example, I have the string in a variable:

str=45:abc

I want

Answer 1

In the Light of people posting all sorts of methots for splitting variables here i might as well post my own method, allowing for not only one but several splits out of a variable, indicated by the same symbol, which is not possible with the REM-Method (which i used for some time, thanks @jeb).

With the method below, the string defined in the second line is split into three parts:

setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
set fulline=one/two/three or/more
set fulline=%fulline%//
REM above line prevents unexpected results when input string has less than two /

set line2=%fulline:*/=%
set line3=%line2:*/=%

set line1=!fulline:/%line2%=!
set line2=!line2:/%line3%=!

setlocal DisableDelayedExpansion

echo."%line1%"
echo."%line2%"
echo."%line3%"

OUTPUT:

"one"
"two"
"three or/more//"

i recommend using the last so-created partition of the string as a "bin" for the remaining "safety" split-characters.