How to escape variables with parentheses inside if-clause in a batch file?

Question

Running this batch file

@echo off
set a=some value with (parentheses) inside
if 1 == 1 (
    set PATH=%a%
)

gives inside was unexpect

Answer 1

The ) in %a% is the problem here. You can just do some substitution to escape the ).

@echo off
set a=some value with (parentheses) inside
if 1 == 1 (
    set PATH=%a:)=^)%
)