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alleypuppy wrote:Hey guys,

I need to know if a variable can have multiple values rather than just one. I'm trying to make a file that calls for a string to be "start %variable%" and the variable needs to equal more than one value.

Forgive me if this is a simple question. I'm a total noob with Batch Files.

@echo off
set arry[0]=Hello
set arry[1]=, 
set arry[2]=World
set arry[3]=!
echo %arry[0]%%arry[1]%%arry[2]%%arry[3]%
pause

nitt wrote:

alleypuppy wrote:Hey guys,

I need to know if a variable can have multiple values rather than just one. I'm trying to make a file that calls for a string to be "start %variable%" and the variable needs to equal more than one value.

Forgive me if this is a simple question. I'm a total noob with Batch Files.

I think you're looking for arrays. No, I don't think Batch has normal arrays. But you can make array-like variables like this:

Code: Select all

@echo off
set arry[0]=Hello
set arry[1]=, 
set arry[2]=World
set arry[3]=!
echo %arry[0]%%arry[1]%%arry[2]%%arry[3]%
pause

But no, you can't like call on a variable and have 2 output, unless you want them side-by-side like "set variable=1 3".

set var1=iexplore
set var2=notepad
set var3=chrome

set /p command=^>
if /I "%command%"=="start %var1%, %var2%, %var3%" start %var1%%var2%%var3%

Ed Dyreen wrote:I don't wan't to force anyone using macros, but really they are so easy to use !

push %~b onto %~a.array:
set "%%~a.Array=%%~b¦^!%%~a.Array^!" %\n2%

pop array
set "%%~a.Array=^!%%~a.Array:*¦=^!" %\n2%

see array
set /p "?=^!%%~a.Array^!" ^<nul %\n2%

You can also get elements, but that is a little more work. And I won't post if people are going to be negative about my comments again.

alleypuppy wrote:

nitt wrote:

alleypuppy wrote:Hey guys,

I need to know if a variable can have multiple values rather than just one. I'm trying to make a file that calls for a string to be "start %variable%" and the variable needs to equal more than one value.

Forgive me if this is a simple question. I'm a total noob with Batch Files.

I think you're looking for arrays. No, I don't think Batch has normal arrays. But you can make array-like variables like this:

Code: Select all

@echo off
set arry[0]=Hello
set arry[1]=, 
set arry[2]=World
set arry[3]=!
echo %arry[0]%%arry[1]%%arry[2]%%arry[3]%
pause

But no, you can't like call on a variable and have 2 output, unless you want them side-by-side like "set variable=1 3".

Hmmm... Is it possible to have multiple variables written in the command but the command will execute if only one is typed? For instance:

Code: Select all

set var1=iexplore
set var2=notepad
set var3=chrome

set /p command=^>
if /I "%command%"=="start %var1%, %var2%, %var3%" start %var1%%var2%%var3%

I know that this way doesn't work, but is there a way to make it work like this?

blahblah

if "%var2%" NEQ "" goto eof
if "%var3%" NEQ "" goto eof

blahblah

:eof

Ed Dyreen wrote:I don't wan't to force anyone using macros, but really they are so easy to use !

push %~b onto %~a.array:
set "%%~a.Array=%%~b¦^!%%~a.Array^!" %\n2%

pop array
set "%%~a.Array=^!%%~a.Array:*¦=^!" %\n2%

see array
set /p "?=^!%%~a.Array^!" ^<nul %\n2%

You can also get elements, but that is a little more work. And I won't post if people are going to be negative about my comments again.

Though, easy? I still haven't a clue about using this macro business! lol, that syntax looks nutty even for DOS. I should probably study dbenham's thread.

Who's being negative? :<

orange_batch wrote:

Ed Dyreen wrote:I don't wan't to force anyone using macros, but really they are so easy to use !

push %~b onto %~a.array:
set "%%~a.Array=%%~b¦^!%%~a.Array^!" %\n2%

pop array
set "%%~a.Array=^!%%~a.Array:*¦=^!" %\n2%

see array
set /p "?=^!%%~a.Array^!" ^<nul %\n2%

You can also get elements, but that is a little more work. And I won't post if people are going to be negative about my comments again.

Who's being negative? :<

Though, easy? I still haven't a clue about using this macro business! lol, that syntax looks nutty even for DOS. I should probably study dbenham's thread.

orange_batch wrote:lol nitt, I understand the syntax very well, it's the logic of his particular method that I'd have to study to follow. But I disagree, batch has it's drawbacks but it's deceptively powerful. It runs well enough in the right hands. In any case, Command Prompt's purpose is to be a simple interface.

It depends how one looks at it. To me, Command Prompt uses very little memory and if it produces the intended result, I see no need to use a different language.

nitt wrote:...Are you seriously saying that you know so much Batch that no other language is needed?

nitt wrote:I don't really think you get how Batch and every other language works. Batch is designed for only specific purposes. It's not even considered a programming language, because it's not really interpreted by the computer like others languages are.

nitt wrote:I understand this, and I'm not even an application programmer. I'm a web programmer. I just happen to know a few application programming languages.

Batch is rarely used professionally. Sometimes it is to execute Java applications, or help execute other applications. But that's about it.

Ed Dyreen wrote:%@forA% ( '1¦1000¦return' )%@Random%

It then gets you the result, faster than any:
call :Random 1 1000 return
Simply because there is no call at all ! a macro is like a function variable expanding in memory. Complex is not always better but in this case well it really is !

There is a problem however, the number of characters available for variables is limited !
but i found a way around the problem and I am getting of topic seriously :
You simply call a funtion from within the macro with arguments on what do next.
Then this function calls the next macro etc..

Cool, I get it. Like you said though, it's mostly only useful for huge scripts over 100 KB+ right?

orange_batch wrote:Cool, I get it. Like you said though, it's mostly only useful for huge scripts over 100 KB+ right?

 if not defined macroLibIndicator call macroLib.bat