Auto set a input variable in batch?

Question

1.00/5 (1 vote)

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I have a batch script and the problem is I need the file to automatically call on and automatically input a variable

I need something like this:

<br />
::"a" Is a batch file its main contents will be after this<br />
a VAR<br />
::VAR is a the value of a variable that needs input<br />

this is a.bat:

<br />
cd Temp<br />
echo :a >> save.temp<br />
set a=<br />
set /p a=:<br />
echo :%a% >> save.temp<br />
echo echo "%a%" >> bot.temp <br />
echo goto prompt >> bot.temp<br />
cd..<br />
cd..<br />
make<br />

I want it to do the variable that needs user input, I cant just change it to something like
set a=%othervar%
because my whole program will fail.

How do I make the value go in instead of the user having to type it?

Posted 15-Jul-13 11:02am

G4mm4R4y

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Comments

Maciej Los 15-Jul-13 17:16pm

Why batch file?
Who wants to use it now and what's for?

G4mm4R4y 15-Jul-13 17:50pm

What for? Its a program that makes a chatbot. Its in beta but it wont be if I can do this

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 15-Jul-13 20:46pm

Makes no sense, really. You did not really explain what you want to have (none of three of us did not really get it), but let me tell you: this is only a batch, it is not designed to do anything advanced. If a user has to type something this person has to type it, or just click some key to accept default, but not editing values or something like that.
—SA

G4mm4R4y 16-Jul-13 10:02am

Every person has to start somewhere I started with batch. I know more advanced things, but I wanted to go back and make a simple(Or not so simple)batch file. See my commant on the answer below and see if that clarifies

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 16-Jul-13 12:07pm

If doesn't seem reasonable, and it does not properly address the simplicity issue. For example, batch is primitive, but using it is not simple.
—SA

G4mm4R4y 16-Jul-13 13:23pm

Criticizing my usage of batch is reasonable. I know its not worth trying but I still want to. Can you help me with this? The problem now is:
Jaydman2102 - 2 hrs ago
This wont work, im trying to make it condtionional. Heres the code
if defined %%1 (
echo "%1" >> bot.temp
) else (
cd Temp
echo :a >> save.temp
set a=
set /p a=:
echo :%a% >> save.temp
echo echo "%a%" >> bot.temp
echo goto prompt >> bot.temp
cd..
cd..
make
)
It wont work each time it says the variable is undefined

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 16-Jul-13 13:28pm

After we discussed it, I should mention that I know the value of batch (no need to install or configure anything! they work in all cases) and use them myself. I only say you should not require too much from them. So, I would gladly help you, but...

I'm still in doubt what exactly do you want to achieve. Could you describe step by step, what a user can see?

—SA

G4mm4R4y 16-Jul-13 13:46pm

Sure, Id be happy to. What this is, is a chatbot maker. They have to write a
.cbs file (Chat-Bot Script) Then open the program and type the command "W"
It changes the .cbs to .bat and runs it. The .cbs would most likely consist of something like this:
b
s Hi
a Hello I am A chatbot name mary
q
s Hello
a Hi
q
n NAMEOFBOT

Or they could not use the cbs file and use the prompt and type something like this
b
s
hi
a
hello
q
n
name

Theres a bug that you cant edit the bot when you compile so I figured id let the right a file. They cant see much but the commands echo certain things into a file like
echo if /I %%prompt%%==%a% >> bot.temp
and before that there is
set /p a=:
I want there to be a if statement asking if %1 is defined but the results are very weird. Any more info?

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 16-Jul-13 19:52pm

Sorry, still cannot get it. I don't see what is the input what is the output...
Asking %1 simply means: %1 should be entered from command line (this is the first parameter). If this is not entered, it is requested from the user using "set /p". Is it what you are looking for? But this is easy...
—SA

2 solutions

Solution 2

You code has a number of bugs. Please consider this:

@echo off

define parameter=%1
echo This is first: %1
if "%parameter%"=="" set /p parameter=Enter parameter value: 

echo %parameter%

pause

Pay attention: command-line parameter is %1, not %%1; there is not "defined"; you should use string comparison, which is the operator '=='.

Does it help you?

—SA

Posted 16-Jul-13 14:05pm

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov

Comments

G4mm4R4y 16-Jul-13 22:39pm

Does not help, But opens ideas. Im trying to check whether or not %1 is defined if it is tthen echo it into a file (echo %1 >> file.extension)

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 16-Jul-13 22:42pm

"Does not help" and "opens ideas" are contradicting statements... :-)
—SA

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Maciej Los · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-15T11:15:00

Solution 1

Have a look here:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1515965/how-to-input-a-string-from-user-into-environment-variable-from-batch-file[^]
http://snipplr.com/view/14953/[^]

[EDIT #1]
If you want to call another batch file with input parameter try this:
first.bat

Delphi

second.bat "Hello world!"

second.bat

Delphi

@echo "path to me: " %0
@echo "first input variable: " %1
@echo "second input variable: " %2
rem "and so on ;)"
pause

In above example %1 variable stores text: "Helo world!"
Is that what you're looking for?

More about: Using variables in windows batch files[^]

Posted 15-Jul-13 11:15am

Maciej Los

Updated 15-Jul-13 21:02pm

v2

Comments

G4mm4R4y 15-Jul-13 17:51pm

This is not what I meant at all. I meant a different batch file puts in the prompt for me

Maciej Los 16-Jul-13 3:02am

See my answer now ;)

G4mm4R4y 16-Jul-13 10:01am

This is almost what I want except I need it instead of %1 to fill out set /p a=: by itself.

G4mm4R4y 16-Jul-13 10:05am

Ill try to make this work, but it might not.

G4mm4R4y 16-Jul-13 10:28am

This wont work, im trying to make it condtionional. Heres the code
if defined %%1 (
echo "%1" >> bot.temp
) else (
cd Temp
echo :a >> save.temp
set a=
set /p a=:
echo :%a% >> save.temp
echo echo "%a%" >> bot.temp
echo goto prompt >> bot.temp
cd..
cd..
make
)
It wont work each time it says the variable is undefined