Set a multiline variable in batch

[zask]

Is this what your asking for?

@echo off
set nl=^& echo.
echo %nl%Multiple%nl%lines%nl%variable%nl%

or maybe this?

@echo off
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
(set nl=^
%=DONT_CHANGE_THIS_LINE=%
)

echo !nl!multiple!nl!lines!nl!in!nl!a!nl!variable!nl!

its not really in one variable but it should solve your problem.

You can even add some style to your code if you really wanted to.

@echo off
set nl=^& echo.
echo  ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» %nl% º                              º %nl% º   A better example of this!  º %nl% º    Hopefully This helped?    º %nl% º                              º %nl% ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ %nl%               
pause 

rather than this creating a multi lined variable, it creates a variable that represents the new line it's self

[_unknown_]

Is this what your asking for?

@echo off
set nl=^& echo.
echo %nl%Multiple%nl%lines%nl%variable%nl%

or maybe this?

@echo off
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
(set nl=^
%=DONT_CHANGE_THIS_LINE=%
)

echo !nl!multiple!nl!lines!nl!in!nl!a!nl!variable!nl!

its not really in one variable but it should solve your problem.

You can even add some style to your code if you really wanted to.

@echo off
set nl=^& echo.
echo  ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» %nl% º                              º %nl% º   A better example of this!  º %nl% º    Hopefully This helped?    º %nl% º                              º %nl% ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ %nl%               
pause 

rather than this creating a multi lined variable, it creates a variable that represents the new line it's self

Thanks but foxidrive's code is working. But the code only works on single file and I forgot to include in my question that I have more file.vrt files.

[foxidrive]

Code: [Select]

@echo off
set "src=C:\path\to\source\files"
set "dst=C:\path\to\destination\files"
pushd "%src%"
(
for /f "delims=" %%a in ('dir /b /a-d "*.vrt" ') do (
   set "stop="
      for /f "usebackq delims=" %%b in ("%%a") do (
         echo(%%b
         if not defined stop type "file2.vrt" &  echo(
         set stop=are-we-there-yet?
      )))>"%dst%\%%a"

That's untested.

Keep in mind that you make it harder for the volunteers by not saying what you really want to do, and they are spending their own free time to assist you.

People asking for help with a scripting technique don't need to provide lots of detail, but people who need help writing a complete script do need to say what they are doing!

i just had numerous files and forgot to include it.

"forgot" is not what happened here.

[patio]

I predict 5 pages...

[Geek-9pm]

I predict 5 pages...

At 3 and counting.   

[patio]

Thanx for your contribution...i had already noticed though.

[zask]

Thanks but foxidrive's code is working. But the code only works on single file and I forgot to include in my question that I have more file.vrt files.

so your basically trying to do this if i am correct, use the example below

you have a variable name "a"

and you basically want %a% to equal everything in specific lines?

set a=
line1
line2
line3

so that %a% can reuse both lines 1,2, & 3 from just calling %a%?
That's not a easy thing to do in batch files, i mean it's possible but it's a complete pain in
doing.

maybe you could cheat the code lol.

command 1 >> "temp"
command 2 >> "temp"
command 3 >> "temp"
set /p OUTPUT= < "temp"
del "temp"
echo %OUTPUT%

[Geek-9pm]

It does not work.
Zack, why post code that does not work.
Rather than prove anything, it paints you as a novice. 

[patio]

 We've known that for quite awhile...

[zask]

It does not work.
Zack, why post code that does not work.
Rather than prove anything, it paints you as a novice. 

My bad long day, i advised a better solution, the file will turn each individual line into its own variable, which can be recalled throughout multiple lines. also i was hoping that people would know not actualy to type command 1,2, or 3. it was just an example. hope this helps now that my brain is working correctly lol.


you could select from a specific line from your "file.txt" or whatever you need, just be sure to replace it's file name with a different file name that has the code you need to use.

@echo off
setlocal EnableExtensions EnableDelayedExpansion
for /f "delims=" %%a in (file.txt) do (
set /a c+=1
set x[!c!]=%%a
)
set x
pause

what ever appears in the prompt, add percentage signs around it.

for example; if you had a line that said "echo hello" inside "file.txt" and you wanted to find that specific line and turn it into a variable, it would display this.

x[1]=echo hello

so in your original batch file you would turn it into %x[1]% and it will display "echo hello" from line x[1] inside of "file.txt". if you wanted it to store more lines to make your variable larger you could do so as you wish. you can also put your %x[1]% variable inside the second variable (%[x2]%) if you wanted a single variable with multiple lines. then use my previous command "set nl=^& echo." inside of it as well to avoid two lines of code to appear on the same line. thus resulting in one multi lined variable.

working on an example so give me a minute

[zask]

:/ zzZ so tired

[zask]

@echo off
setlocal EnableExtensions EnableDelayedExpansion
rem represents the new line
(set nl=^
%=DONT_CHANGE_THIS_LINE=%
)

echo hello >> file.txt
echo. >> file.txt
echo friends >> file.txt

echo created file.txt with the words "hello" and "friends" inside of it
pause

rem turns all lines into a variable
for /f "delims=" %%a in (file.txt) do (
set /a c+=1
set x[!c!]=%%a
)
set x
pause

echo your variables are
echo %x[1]%
echo %x[3]%

pause

echo your final multi lined variable

echo %x[1]%!nl!%x[3]%

echo well sorta lol.

[Geek-9pm]

echo well sorta lol.

Sorta is only valid playing horseshoes with my grand daughter.

[zask]

Sorta is only valid playing horseshoes with my grand daughter.

Sorta doesn't imply that the code doesn't work, implies rather that the variable are beside each other than combined into one (not a big deal really). it just a work around. from what ive heard is that he/she wants a variable that contains multiple lines of code, and when he/she runs that variable it runs all the code inside of it just as any other variable with one line would do. it doesn't imply that the code above doesn't work as it does just fine with variables set beside each other, and if you wanted to honestly you could just put the contents of the variable inside the other variable?

I was implying that it may not be a multi lined variable because its not just one variable, but does just the same so.... idk try it, it should work, that is if this even is what Unknown is asking for. :/ it's still unclear what unknown is even asking for, it would be helpful if he/she would post his/her code. think none of us here are actually going to go through the pain to make a real multi lined variable in batch with hardly any explanation of what it's for, but a work around seems more logical, still think he should explain better so we can find a solution 

[zask]

At 3 and counting.   

yeah, i hope it doesn't go that long