batch script not working from .bat file

Question

I wrote this one liner that allow me to start pageant and load all .ppk files from my %HOMEPATH%/.ssh folder

Here is it:

start pageant && timeout 1 && FOR %k in ("%HOMEPATH%\.ssh\*.ppk") do start pageant %k

The timeout is there to prevent multiple pageant instances ( WIN7 only, I know )

So this works when just running it from the command line. Pageant starts and all keys load.

But now i want to put it in a .bat file so that i can add it in my startup folder.

I tried all these combinations:

start pageant && timeout 1 && FOR %k in ("%HOMEPATH%\.ssh\*.ppk") do start pageant %k

start pageant
timeout 1
FOR %k in ("%HOMEPATH%\.ssh\*.ppk") do start pageant %k

start pageant && timeout 1 && FOR %k in ("C:%HOMEPATH%\.ssh\*.ppk") do start pageant %k

start pageant
timeout 1
FOR %k in ("C:%HOMEPATH%\.ssh\*.ppk") do start pageant %k

start pageant && timeout 1 && FOR %k in ("C:\Users\Willem\.ssh\*.ppk") do start pageant %k

start pageant
timeout 1
FOR %k in ("C:\Users\Willem\.ssh\*.ppk") do start pageant %k

I also tried several options on FOR and tried removing and adding start everywhere. And many more variations, i keep getting this error when the FOR loops runs

HOMEPATHk was unexpected at this time.

It's just not working when i try to run it through a .bat file. pageant.exe is added to my system32 folder, I'm using the latest stable version.

What rookie mistake am i missing here that this won't run from a batch file ?

In batch files for loop variables use the sintax %%k

MC ND
– MC ND

2013-12-12 11:18:22 +00:00
Commented Dec 12, 2013 at 11:18 — MC ND
– MC ND, Commented Dec 12, 2013 at 11:18

Knuckle-Dragger · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-13 16:20:54Z

1

Double up your % to %% while running as a batch file. It's a special character and must be escaped when run from batch, explaining why it works from the command line but not from batch file.

answered Dec 13, 2013 at 16:20

Knuckle-Dragger

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Pedro Reis · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-17 15:42:41Z

0

It would be better to call pageant with multiple parameters, instead of calling it multiple times:

pageant %a %b %c %d ...

It doesn't start any more if already opened.

answered Jan 17, 2014 at 15:42

Pedro Reis

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