How to construct a Hyperlink to Launch a Batch File with Parameters?

[exotic]

Hello!

This is my first post - so I would first like to say what a fantastic website this has been to me - for several years. I finally had to register, since I have a problem which I think cannot be solved but would like to run it past the resident experts first....

I need to construct a hyperlink which will launch a batch file with a parameter. It might look something like this:

Code: [Select]

<a target=new href="U:\PLINK.BAT SERVER09231">U:\PLINK.BAT SERVER09231</a>
However, this fails to launch when you click it - I think due to the space before the parameter - as it gets interpreted as part of the filename.

Any suggestions on how to achieve this, or is it impossible?

Many thanks.

[Squashman]

Hello!

This is my first post - so I would first like to say what a fantastic website this has been to me - for several years. I finally had to register, since I have a problem which I think cannot be solved but would like to run it past the resident experts first....

What kept you from registering to help others with their problems?

[exotic]

What kept you from registering to help others with their problems?

I guess when ever I came across the ComputerHope forum it was from a Google search when looking for answers to questions similar to my own, and the questions found typically were already comprehensively answered. But it was the MSDOS section http://www.computerhope.com/msdos.htm I used mostly, which never required registration.

[Squashman]

I don't think you can pass a parameter to a batch file like that from a web page and have it run.  Pretty sure it is impossible but I have been known to be wrong.

[exotic]

Having thought about how other languages pass parameters, and PHP being the most memorable, I tried using the "?" mark as follows:

Code: [Select]

<a target=new href="U:\PLINK.BAT?SERVER09231">U:\PLINK.BAT?SERVER09231</a>
This does actually launch the batch file now.

For test purposes I have in the batch file...

Code: [Select]

ECHO %CMDCMDLINE%

%CMDCMDLINE% - expands to the original command line that invoked the Command Processor.

...but it shows that the parameter is not being passed across:

cmd /c ""U:\PLINK.BAT" "

The space before the final quotation mark in the output suggests provision for parameters. I wonder if there are any tricks I can add just after the "?" mark, or add additional single/double quotes somewhere in the link?

[exotic]

I couldn't get anywhere with a pure MS DOS solution, so I resorted to linking to a VBScript - since VBScript has awareness of its full URL, including the parameter after the "?" mark - then call the DOS Batch script passing it the extracted parameter:

PLINK.HTM:

Code: [Select]

<a href="U:\PLINK\PLINK.VBS?server=SERVER09231">U:\PLINK\PLINK.VBS?server=SERVER09231<a/>
PLINK.VBS:

Code: [Select]

<script type="text/vbscript">
Dim sURI_Query, oShell

set oShell=CreateObject("wscript.shell")

sURI_Query = window.location.search
sURI_Query = Split(sURI_Query, "server=")

oShell.CurrentDirectory = "U:\PLINKS"
oShell.Run "PLINK.BAT " & sURI_Query(1)
set oShell=Nothing
</Script>

PLINK.BAT:

Code: [Select]

@ECHO OFF
ECHO Parameter is %1