string as statement

[sincos2007]

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:test2
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion

set str1=set s1=hi cat & echo %s1%

%str1%

goto :eof


::why this code does not print 'hi cat'
::Thanks 

[jeb]

This lines executes like

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set str1=set s1=hi cat & echo %s1%

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set str1=set s1=hi cat
echo %s1%  ---  s1 doesn't contain anythig here, therefore "ECHO IS OFF" will be printed

It's always a good idea to use some debugging technics (not only within batch files).
View the variables, with `SET` or delayed expansion, because both show the real content without modifying it.

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setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion

set str1=set s1=hi cat & echo %s1%
SET str1

%str1%

And you should enable ECHO ON to see how each line is executed.

[sincos2007]

Hi jeb,

I have debugged by your technics:

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:test3
echo on
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion

set str1=set var1=hi cat^&echo !var1!

%str1%

::debug
set str1

output is:

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str1=set var1=hi cat&echo

This shows that when executing value of str1, var1 getting value code is executed but when showing value of var1 at second command in same line, var1 has not get the value.

Does it mean that I cannot write

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set var1

and

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echo !var1!

in same line in string value that would be executed later?

[aGerman]

It means that exclamation points have a special meaning if delayed expansion is enabled. Variable var gets already evaluated in your outer SET statement but is not yet defined. Thus, you have to escape them, too. Either

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set str1=set var1=hi cat^&echo ^^!var1^^!

or quoted

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set "str1=set var1=hi cat&echo ^!var1^!"

Steffen

[sincos2007]

Hi Steffen,

Your method works. Thanks.