Batch File FOR loop using variable

Question

I extracted the last line of a text file using the following command:

for /f "tokens=*" %%m in (message_log.txt) do (
   Set lastline=%%m
)

My goal is if the variable %lastline%=="☺§☻PDF file has been aborted. then to display one output and if not exit. But I think the first three characters are messing it up. I am trying this:

for /F "tokens=1-5 delims= " %%a in (%lastline%) do (
    if %%e==aborted. (
        echo pdf not filed
    )
Pause

but the file just exits, with no pause and no output.

I can get this to work if instead of using %lastline% I refer to a file as I did in the first for loop, however I cannot get it to work with a variable.

What is the correct syntax to use a FOR loop to search inside a predefined variable?

If it is simpler my ultimate goal is to echo an error message if the last line in my text file contains the string "abort". Is there a better way to do this?

You're missing a ). Open the command prompt and run the script from there instead of double-clicking it to see if there are any errors. — SomethingDark
– SomethingDark, Commented Jun 17, 2017 at 1:16

user6811411 · Accepted Answer · 2017-06-17 10:35:51Z

1

Your first approach is OK, just missing the check.

for /f "delims=" %%m in (message_log.txt) do Set lastline=%%m

If "%lastline%" neq "%lastline:abort=%" ^
  Echo error message the last line in message_log.txt contains the string "abort"

With findstr

for /f "delims=" %%m in (message_log.txt) do Set lastline=%%m

Echo %lastline%|Findstr /i "abort" 2>&1 >Nul && ^
  Echo error message the last line in message_log.txt contains the string "abort"

With Gnuwin32 tools installed

tail -n 1 message_log.txt|grep "abort" >NUL && ^
  Echo error message the last line in message_log.txt contains the string "abort"

answered Jun 17, 2017 at 10:35

user6811411

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2 Comments

Lawrence Over a year ago

Thank you very much for the solutions! I used the first one and it worked fantastic! I did have to get rid of the hat ^ though. I am not sure why it was there but it wouldn't recognize the next line of code if it was present.

user6811411 Over a year ago

The caret ^ as the last char is the line continuation char to split long lines

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