Set a multiline variable in batch

[_unknown_]

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?

Yes foxidrive, the multi-line data is inside another file. And I want to put all the information from that file, after the line one of another file. Actually, I want to edit the extension name of my sample(but unable to modify it, sorry about that). The files are .vrt not .txt. VRT files are like xml files and the content per line has < and > character.

[foxidrive]

This might work:

Code: [Select]

@echo off
for /f "usebackq delims=" %%a in ("file.vrt") do (
echo(%%a
if not defined stop type "file2.vrt"
set stop=are-we-there-yet?
)
pause

[_unknown_]

This might work:

Code: [Select]

if not defined stop type "file2.vrt"
set stop=are-we-there-yet?


Sorry to ask but what does this line means?

[_unknown_]

This might work:

Code: [Select]

@echo off
for /f "usebackq delims=" %%a in ("file.vrt") do (
echo(%%a
if not defined stop type "file2.vrt"
set stop=are-we-there-yet?
)
pause

How will i overwrite the output of this to the file.vrt? I have observed that when all the information from file2.vrt was inserted to file.vrt,, the 2nd line of the file.vrt was positioned right after the last character of the last line of file2.vrt when it should be on the line after the last line of file2.vrt.

output in command line:

Code: [Select]

This is
   <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>
   </Insert>  an
example
of
input.txt


[foxidrive]

The reason it's butted up against the line above is the line endings, that I spoke to you about in your last thread on this same issue.

In your file2.vrt there is no CR/LF pair at the end of the last line, and this is something that depends on the editor or process being used to create the file2.vrt file.

Some files have that there, some don't.

[_unknown_]

I see. Do you know how to overwrite the output to the file.vrt?

I'm also wondering what this lines mean?

Code: [Select]

if not defined stop type "file2.vrt"
set stop=are-we-there-yet?


[foxidrive]

I forgot about redirecting it to a file.

This also adds the missing CR/LF

Code: [Select]

@echo off
(
for /f "usebackq delims=" %%a in ("file.vrt") do (
echo(%%a
if not defined stop type "file2.vrt" &  echo(
set stop=are-we-there-yet?
))>file.tmp
move file.tmp "file.vrt" >nul
pause
Which part of the other two lines didn't you understand?

[_unknown_]

I forgot about redirecting it to a file.

This also adds the missing CR/LF

Code: [Select]

@echo off
(
for /f "usebackq delims=" %%a in ("file.vrt") do (
echo(%%a
if not defined stop type "file2.vrt" &  echo(
set stop=are-we-there-yet?
))>file.tmp
move file.tmp "file.vrt" >nul
pause
Which part of the other two lines didn't you understand?

I don't understand the two lines    Is this only possible with one file? or is it also possible with many files?like I have many file.vrt in a folder and I want to insert file2.vrt in all of them. I also want  to add the directory of where the file2.vrt is located.
This is what I did, but no luck 

Code: [Select]

@echo off

set "input=C:\path\to\files\"
set "output=C:\path\to\output\"
set "file2=C:\path\to\file2\"

cd /d "%in_path%"
for /f "usebackq delims=" %%a in (*.file.vrt) do (
set "fileName=%%a
echo(%%a
if not defined stop type "%file2%\file2.vrt"
set stop=are-we-there-yet?


[foxidrive]

I don't understand the two lines    Is this only possible with one file? or is it also possible with many files?

Yes, more files are possible.
But it needs changed code. 

if you provide accurate details in the beginning then you don't waste the time of the volunteers, and you get a working script in the first reply.

[Geek-9pm]

For what it's worth..
The general method of overwriting a file after a join operation.
  Open three files, two input, one output.
  Perform the join on the two input files.
  Send output to the third file.
  If job is free of error, then
    rename the original file as a backup.
    rename the output file to the original name.
 else report error
end of job.

Trying to overwrite the original file "on the wing" is a very bad idea.

[_unknown_]

Yes, more files are possible.
But it needs changed code. 

if you provide accurate details in the beginning then you don't waste the time of the volunteers, and you get a working script in the first reply.

I'm sorry I forgot about that. That is the last thing I need.

[_unknown_]

Yes, more files are possible.
But it needs changed code. 

if you provide accurate details in the beginning then you don't waste the time of the volunteers, and you get a working script in the first reply.

I hope you can still help me about it 

[foxidrive]

You've still hidden most aspects in your new thread, and posted it elsewhere too.

I dislike writing code when it's all made up - what happens is what you've already seen, the volunteer has to re-write the code again.

If the question is simple and no effort is needed then I'll offer a suggestion - but if it's complex then more work is needed to give a solution, and in the same way even more work is needed to re-write *that* script when some other aspect turns out to be important, and was hidden.

It may not seem such a horrible thing - but when it's happened for the ten thousandth time, it gets a bit irritating.

[_unknown_]

That's the last thing I need in this topic. i just had numerous files and forgot to include it.
I don't know how to solve it even when I tried and tried. Just asking for help since it's an urgent matter. I apologize.

[_unknown_]

After trying and trying I've come up with this code:

Code: [Select]

@echo off

set src=C:\path\to\source\files
set dst=C:\path\to\destination\files

for /f "tokens=*" %%a in ('dir /b "%src%\*.file.vrt"') do (
   for /f "usebackq delims=" %%h in ("%%a") do (
   echo(%%h
   if not defined stop type "%src%\file2.vrt"
   set stop=are-we-there-yet?
   ))>%dst%\%%~na.tmp
   move /y %dst%\%%~na.txt %dst%\%%~na.vrt >nul
)

But after running this code, the output files from the dst folder looks likes this: (It happens to all the files I have in src folder)
Can't figure out what is causing this error and how to fix it.

Code: [Select]

C:\path\to\destination\files>(
echo(<This is line 1 of file.vrt> 
 if not defined stop type "file2.vrt" 
 set stop=are-we-there-yet?
)
<This is line 1 of file.vrt>
   <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>
   </Insert>
C:\path\to\destination\files>(
echo(  This is line 2 of file.vrt
 if not defined stop type "file2.vrt" 
 set stop=are-we-there-yet?
)
  This is line 2 of file.vrt

C:\path\to\destination\files>(
echo(  <This is line 3 of file.vrt> 
 if not defined stop type "file2.vrt" 
 set stop=are-we-there-yet?
)
  <This is line 3 of file.vrt>

C:\path\to\destination\files>(
echo(    <This is line 4 of file.vrt> 
 if not defined stop type "file2.vrt" 
 set stop=are-we-there-yet?
)
    <This is line 4 of file.vrt>

and so on. . . . . . . .

This error also appears at the end of the line:

Code: [Select]

C:\path\to\destination\files>move /y C:\path\to\destination\files\
%~na.txt C:\path\to\destination\files\%~na.vrt  1>nul
The system cannot find the file specified.