Replace "!" in a variable value when delayed expansion is on

[GCRaistlin]

Is there a way to replace every exclamation mark in a string when delayed expansion is on?

[jeb]

Hi GCRaistlin,

yes, but it depends on the content of your string

It's simple for simple content (without quotes in the content)

Code: Select all

@echo off

setlocal DisableDelayedExpansion
set "string=Test with caret ^ bang ! and some other <>&| %% stuff"
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion

set "_tmp=%string:!=###%" 

set _tmp

For content with quotes inside, it's gets nasty

Code: Select all

@echo off

setlocal DisableDelayedExpansion
set "string=caret ^ bang ! and some other <>&| %%"
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
set "string=!string! and also quoted stuff "!string!""
set string

set "_tmp=!string!"
set "_tmp=!_tmp:"=""!"
call set "_tmp=%%_tmp:^!=###%%"
set "_tmp=!_tmp:""="!"

set _tmp

[GCRaistlin]

Sorry I wasn't precise, I was seeking for the way to replace "!" using !-expansion. call set works, but its perfomance is just terrible. Anyway, thanks for the trick with doubling the quotes.

[penpen]

Code: Select all

call set "_tmp=%%_tmp:^!=###%%"

I don't see, why the call should be neccessary:
After you doubled the doublequotes, then you should be in the state which is equivalent to using no doublequotes.

At least it does work with your example on win10 (so i wonder if i am missing something):

Code: Select all

@echo off

setlocal DisableDelayedExpansion
set "string=caret ^ bang ! and some other <>&| %%"
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
set "string=!string! and also quoted stuff "!string!""
set string

set "_tmp=!string!"
set "_tmp=!_tmp:"=""!"
set "_tmp=%_tmp:!=###%"
set "_tmp=!_tmp:""="!"

set _tmp

penpen

[jeb]

Hi Penpen,

you are right. The Call is superfluous, I cpoied it from macro code.

@GCRaistlin
No it's not possible to use delayed expansion to replace a single bang, only when the bang is precede with other charactets.

[GCRaistlin]

No it's not possible to use delayed expansion to replace a single bang, only when the bang is precede with other charactets.

What is "bang"? And I don't understand the last part - how preceding with other characters can change the situation?

[dbenham]

Bang is a term used in the computer industry to mean exclamation point. I believe it originated in the Unix world.

The statement about characters before hand has to do with the mechanism (rules) used to parse/expand variables.

Here is a demonstration:

Code: Select all

@echo off
setlocal disableDelayedExpansion
set "VAR=ABC!XYZ"
setlocal enableDelayedExpansion

REM This works, replacing all characters from beginning through the !
echo !VAR:*!=...!

REM This fails because it attempts to expand a variable named VAR:, which is empty (undefined), and then it strips the trailing !
echo !VAR:!=...!

--OUTPUT--

Code: Select all

...XYZ
=...

Dave Benham

[penpen]

What is "bang"?

I also never heard that; my google-fu lead me to that explaination:
https://ss64.com/bash/syntax-pronounce.html#01


penpen