Questions on delims in for loop

[keny456789]

The looping codes below deal with text file.

Code: Select all

for /f "tokens=1 delims=:" %%i in ('findstr /n "^END" %text_file1%') do set count=%%i

count line by line untill the line having "END"

Code: Select all

for /f "delims==" %%a in (%text_file1%) do set lastline=%%a

store the lastline string in %%a

Code: Select all

for /f "skip=1 delims=*" %%a in (test1.txt) do (
   echo %%a >> "test1_copy.txt"    
)

read in the test1.txt line by line until end of file and export them to the new text file test1_copy.txt

I get confused on

Code: Select all

"delims=:"  "delims=="   "delims=*"  and "delims= "

Are all of them used for looping on every whole new line?
Any differences/explanations on putting : = * space in delims?
Thanks in advance.

[jeb]

Hi keny456789,

the main difference is that they split a line at different characters.

If you only want to count, then you don't need to use the delim option at all.

It's important when you have to look at each line like

Code: Select all

for /f "delims=:" %%a in (test1.txt) do (
   echo %%a
)

And in your file is

Hello:world
line2*another:text

Then it will print

Hello
line2*another

[foxidrive]

You may have posted the wrong code, jeb.

It prints

line2

[jeb]

You may have posted the wrong code, jeb.

You are right, of course

I fixed it in my prior post.

[keny456789]

Hi keny456789,

the main difference is that they split a line at different characters.

If you only want to count, then you don't need to use the delim option at all.

It's important when you have to look at each line like

Code: Select all

for /f "delims=:" %%a in (test1.txt) do (
   echo %%a
)

And in your file is

Hello:world
line2*another:text

Then it will print

Hello
line2*another

Hi Jeb, Thanks for your explanation. I am clearer about the delims usage.

[keny456789]

Thank jeb and foxidrive, you gave clear answers to me.