Batch file: How to replace “=” (equal signs) and a string variable?

Question

Besides SED, how can an equal sign be replaced? And how can I use a string variable in string replacement?

Consider this example:

For /F \"tokens=*\"         


        

Answer 1

My answer from another post, but it applies here, too:

There is an alternative that is easier. Instead of passing in a value that contains an equals sign, try something like a colon instead. Then, through the ability to modify that value (the colon), you can convert it back into an equals. Here is an example:

@echo off
set VALUE1=%1
set VALUE2=%VALUE1::==%
echo value1 = %VALUE1%
echo value2 = %VALUE2%

When you run the batch file, call it like this:

C:\>myBatch name:someValue

The output would be:

value1 = name:someValue
value2 = name=someValue

If the name or value contains a space, you will have other issues to address, though. You will need to wrap the entire string in double quotes. But, then you have the issue of needing to get rid of them. This can also be handled, like this:

@echo off
cls
set PARAM=%1
set BASE=%PARAM:"=%
set PAIR=%BASE::==%

rem Either of these two lines will do the same thing - just notice the 'delims'
rem for /f "tokens=1,2 delims=:" %%a in ("%BASE%") do set NAME=%%a & set VALUE=%%b
rem for /f "tokens=1,2 delims==" %%a in ("%PAIR%") do set NAME=%%a & set VALUE=%%b

for /f "tokens=1,2 delims=:" %%a in ("%BASE%") do set NAME=%%a & set VALUE=%%b

echo param = %PARAM%
echo base  = %BASE%
echo pair  = %PAIR%
echo name  = %NAME%
echo value = %VALUE%

When running this batch file like this:

C:\>myBatch "some name:another value"

The output will be:

param = "some name:another value"
base  = some name:another value
pair  = some name=another value
name  = some name
value = another value

Hope that helps others in their quest to win the fight with batch files.

Mike V.