How do I escape ampersands in batch file function parameter?

Question

This is continuation on question How do I escape ampersands in batch files?.

That question presents some ways to use ampersands in batch files. However, it would seem none of those work for function parameters. Example:

@echo off
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion

call:myFunction "http://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=escape+ampersand"

goto:eof

:myFunction
echo Param is: %~1
goto:eof

I would always get

Param is: http://www.google.com/search?client=opera
'q' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

I've tried ^ to escape it and that doesn't seem to work either. Is there a way?

If it matters, my actual use case is supplying a download URL to wget which is called within a batch function.

I am also having the same problem, will apply your solution now and see. — Haris ur Rehman
– Haris ur Rehman, Commented Aug 12, 2015 at 17:44
@MichaelFreidgeim isn't it already explained in the beginning of the question why this isn't a duplicate? None of the answers there work by themselves - what was needed was quotes inside the function as well, not just in the original call. — eis
– eis, Commented Sep 5, 2016 at 6:05

Peter Mortensen · Accepted Answer · 2018-11-02 19:08:28Z

2

Feeling a bit silly now...

@echo off
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion

call:myFunction "http://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=escape+ampersand"

goto:eof

:myFunction
echo Parameter is: "%~1"
goto:eof

Result:

Parameter is: "http://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=escape+ampersand"

edited Nov 2, 2018 at 19:08

Peter Mortensen

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answered Dec 24, 2012 at 12:43

eis

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3 Comments

SketchBookGames Over a year ago

what did you change?

eis Over a year ago

@SketchBookGames added quotes to my "Param is" printing

Minix Over a year ago

What if you don't want the double quotes printed, though?

Peter Mortensen · Accepted Answer · 2018-11-02 19:09:42Z

1

^& is the correct way to escape, but it isn't usually needed in double quotes.

Source: Escape Characters

edited Nov 2, 2018 at 19:09

Peter Mortensen

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answered Dec 26, 2012 at 16:14

Patrick Meinecke

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