Set a multiline variable in batch

[_unknown_]

Tried to use this script from here http://stackoverflow.com/questions/23075953/batch-script-to-find-and-replace-a-string-in-text-file-without-creating-an-extra. When I tried to assign a one long line text to the variable replace, the script run successfully. But when I tried to set a multi line to the variable replace and run the script and it always says The syntax of the command is incorrect. Any help?  Thanks!

Code: [Select]

@echo off
set "search=<one>asdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiop</one>
set "replace=   <roses are ="RED">
     <violets are="blue">1</violets> #this should be in a new line
     <sugar is="sweet">1</sugar>" #this should be in a new line

set "textFile=A2015336045000.L2_LAC.SeAHABS_chlora.vrt"

    for /f "delims=" %%i in ('type "%textFile%" ^& break ^> "%textFile%" ') do (
        set "line=%%i"
        setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
        set "line=!line:%search%=%replace%!"
        >>"%textFile%" echo(!line!
        endlocal
)


[Geek-9pm]

Why are you using the <and > things?
These are redirection symbols.
Also, it is not a good idea to embed the new line thing into something. If you have something that takes three lines, just use three variables for three lines.

Is there a strong reason to put new line into a message? I can't imagine why you would need it.

[_unknown_]

Why are you using the <and > things?

My strings contains these symbol.

Is there a strong reason to put new line into a message? I can't imagine why you would need it.

Since I have multiple lines, I don't have any idea on how to put the rest of the lines into a new line.

[_unknown_]

Tried using three variables for the three lines. But the output displays them in only one line.

[foxidrive]

If you explain your task in English then you may get a solution.

Batch files don't like multiple lines in an environment variable.

[Geek-9pm]

Thanks, Foxidrive.
From what little I understand of his post, I did a short batch file to ilustrate what it looks like to me.

Code: [Select]

REM This is a very simple batch file
REM It is named simple1.bat
echo off
set rose=Roses are Red,
set viol=Violets are blue.
set poem=If we ever wed,
set when=Say I love lyou.
echo %rose%
echo %viol%
echo %poem%
echo %when%
echo on
REM Write to a TXT file
echo off
REM Frst arrow write new file
REM two arrows add to file
@echo %rose% > new.txt
@echo %viol% >> new.txt
echo %poem% >> new.txt
echo %when% >> new.txt
type new.txt
pause
REM All Done!Screen Shot attached.


[attachment deleted by admin to conserve space]

[BC_Programmer]

My strings contains these symbol.

And they have special meaning to the command interpreter. > and < are, as Geek mentions, redirection symbols. You have to escape them if you want to use them, by prefixing them with a Caret. For example:

Code: [Select]

C:\>echo <
The Syntax of the command is incorrect.
C:\>echo ^<
<


Since I have multiple lines, I don't have any idea on how to put the rest of the lines into a new line.

The Command Interpreter doesn't support multi-line environment variables. There are ways to create them but they are rather unpleasant and tend to be more difficult to work with then changing the problem such that it doesn't require processing of multi-line environment variables.

[zask]

Yes you have to cancel out the sign. here is a example

@echo off

echo This is a message inside the file text.txt >> text.txt
echo @echo off
echo echo Adding the carrot sign cancels the sign out ^>^> text.bat >> text.txt
echo pause >> text.txt

[zask]

Mybad blonde moment~ correction below

@echo off
echo Rem This is a message inside the file text.txt >> text.txt
echo @echo off ^>^> text.bat >> text.txt
echo echo Adding the carrot sign cancels the sign out ^>^> text.bat >> text.txt
echo pause ^>^> text.bat >> text.txt

[foxidrive]

From what little I understand of his post, I did a short batch file to ilustrate what it looks like to me.

I guess I'm getting old and crotchety, but I ask simple questions for a couple of reasons.

1) is to get a response of some kind - because why would you go to any effort when a poster can paste their question into 12 different forums, and they will not even see what you have written because it was answered somewhere else.

2) to help avoid misunderstandings.  That just wastes your time when you assume they mean pie and they actually mean PI, if you follow that odd example.


I didn't even read the fellows question all the way through to be honest.

What I noticed was words that didn't describe an actual task - so I stopped reading - because of point 2 above.

[_unknown_]

If you explain your task in English then you may get a solution.

Let's say I have a text file named input.txt. The input.txt contains 5 lines. What I need to do now is insert "multiple lines" on the 2nd line of the input.txt and then save it again with the same file name which is input.txt(overwrite). But the thing is the lines to insert in the input.txt is indented and enclosed with < >.

input.txt

Code: [Select]

This is
an
example
of
input.txt


The multi line should be inserted after the line This is.

Multi line to insert

Code: [Select]

   <Insert="Line 1"> 
     <Insert="Line 2">file1.vrt</Line2> 
     <Insert="Line 2">1</Line2> 
     <Insert="Line 3">file2.vrt</Line3> 
     <Insert="Line 3">1</Line3> 
     <Another line="Line 4">0</Line4>
      rem And so on. . .   
   </Insert>


[Squashman]

So you are trying to edit an XML file?

[_unknown_]

So you are trying to edit an XML file?

The extension name of the file are *.vrt. But it says in  here http://www.gdal.org/drv_vrt.html that it's based in an XML file. Maybe it's an xml file.

[patio]

Uummm...yea.

[foxidrive]

Let's say I have a text file named input.txt. The input.txt contains 5 lines. What I need to do now is insert "multiple lines" on the 2nd line of the input.txt and then save it again with the same file name which is input.txt(overwrite).

Thanks, that's useful detail.

But where does the multi-line data exist?  Is it inside a file?

Do you want to put all the information that is inside one file, after line one of the other file?