Splitting a path using a string in DOS batch.

[kproudfoot]

I am having a hard time figuring out how to split a string (a path) by another string. I ave seen a few posts regarding this, however, people are always splitting using a single character like a '\' for example.

I need to specifically split this:
C:\abc\def\ghi\jkl\

by this:
def

so I get this:  C:\abd\     and this \ghi\jkl\

And I need to be able to address both pieces.  Basically, I need to find that foldername in a string, and it is NEVER in the same place in the path, otherwise I would just split by '\' and count up to that folder... cant do that. What I have now seems to search for each letter individually.

Any ideas?  below is where i left off, trying to figure out how to put the foldername "project" after the delims part.

Code: [Select]

rem assuming %1 is flder dragged onto .bat file

for /f "tokens=1* delims=<foldername???>" %%a in ("%1") do (
  set part1=%%a
  set part2=%%b
)

echo part1 = %part1%
echo part2 = %part2%

Thanks for any help you can give!
Ken

[1998golfer]

I think you can just do

Code: [Select]

mkdir "C:\%part1%\%part2%\%part3%and on and on...

[kproudfoot]

The issue is not adding the parts... the issue is how to SPLIT the parts... because from what I can find, the portion after the delims= part ONLY looks for single characters... so if i put foldername as the thing to split by, it will split it into- f if it finds one, then o if it finds one, then l if it finds one.. which is not useful for this... 

[Salmon Trout]

splitstring.bat

@echo off
REM YOU NEED THIS
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion

REM If the passed parameter string has any spaces you must quote it
REM we unquote it using ~
set PassedString=%~1

REM May as well do the same with string to split on
set DelimString=%~2

REM The delim string must appear exactly ONCE in the passed string

REM Replace the delim string with a symbol which will not be in the
REM path to be split, in this example I use @
set splitsub=@
call set tempstring=!PassedString:%DelimString%=%splitsub%!

REM Use FOR to split the modified string
for /f "tokens=1* delims=%splitsub%" %%A in ("%tempstring%") do set part1=%%A & set part2=%%B

REM Show that the 2 variables contain the desired substrings
echo Passed = %PassedString%
echo Part1  = %part1%
echo Part2  = %part2%


Example output:

C:\>splitstring.bat "D:\Backup\mystuff\programming\Visual Basic\project\ABCDE\DEF" "project"
Passed = D:\Backup\mystuff\programming\Visual Basic\project\ABCDE\DEF
Part1  = D:\Backup\mystuff\programming\Visual Basic\
Part2  = \ABCDE\DEF

C:\>splitstring.bat "D:\Backup\mystuff\programming\Visual Basic\project\ABCDE\DEF" "mystuff"
Passed = D:\Backup\mystuff\programming\Visual Basic\project\ABCDE\DEF
Part1  = D:\Backup\
Part2  = \programming\Visual Basic\project\ABCDE\DEF

[kproudfoot]

wow, awesome! I think this is exactly what I am looking for. Thanks very much for your explanation of the quotes and the expand option.

Cheers!
Ken

[Squashman]

May want to use the back slashes to make sure it matches on a whole directory name if that is what your original intention was.

Code: [Select]

call set tempstring=!PassedString:\%DelimString%\=\%splitsub%\!

[Squashman]

Two other notes.
If you are using the CALL you do not need to use delayed expansion.  You can double up your percents and it will still work fine.

Code: [Select]

call set tempstring=%%PassedString:\%DelimString%\=\%splitsub%\%%
If you remove then CALL then you need to use delayed expansion.

Code: [Select]

set tempstring=!PassedString:\%DelimString%\=\%splitsub%\!

[Salmon Trout]

If you are using the CALL you do not need to use delayed expansion.  You can double up your percents and it will still work fine.

I spent about 30 frustrating minutes adding various numbers of percents and then gave up and went with delayed expansion.