How to extract a folder name from a path stored in a variable with CMD?

Question

In a CMD batch file, it's easy to extract the path/folder name for an argument:

set folder=%~f0
set dirname=%~p0

It's described in help call and help for. Now how do I do the same with a path stored in a variable? The following doesn't work:

set VAR="c:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.6.0_29\bin\java.exe"
echo %~pVAR%

The alternative I found is to use either FOR or CALL:

for %%A in (%VAR%) do set P=%%~pA
for %%A in (%VAR%) do set N=%%~nA
for %%A in (%VAR%) do set E=%%~xA

and then use %P% (c:\path), %N% (appname), %E% (.exe) as I need.

For example, I recently needed to convert a java.exe variable to map to javaw.exe instead, so I end up writing this:

if %java_exe%=java (
    set javaw_exe=javaw
) else (
    for %%a in (%java_exe%) do set p=%%~pa
    for %%a in (%java_exe%) do set n=%%~na
    for %%a in (%java_exe%) do set x=%%~xa
    set n=%n:java=javaw%
    set javaw_exe=%p%%n%%x%
)
if not exist %javaw_exe% set javaw_exe=%java_exe%

Can someone shine in with a better solution that doesn't look totally hackish?

Aacini · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-11 07:18:20Z

2

There is no other way to do what you need. The only improvement in your code is that several values may be taken in the same for, and the elimination of one line:

if %java_exe%=java (
    set javaw_exe=javaw
) else (
    for %%a in (%java_exe%) do set p=%%~pa& set n=%%~na& set x=%%~xa
    set javaw_exe=%p%%n:java=javaw%%x%
)
if not exist %javaw_exe% set javaw_exe=%java_exe%

edited Nov 11, 2011 at 7:18

answered Nov 11, 2011 at 6:36

Aacini

67.7k12 gold badges74 silver badges114 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

Yordan Georgiev · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-14 19:59:47Z

0

@echo off

:: go the run dir
cd %~dp0
:: this is the dir containing the batch file
set MyDir=%CD%

for %%A in (%0) do set MyDriveLetter=%%~dA
for %%A in (%0) do set MyPath=%%~pA
for %%A in (%0) do set MyName=%%~nA
for %%A in (%0) do set MyExtension=%%~xA

ECHO MYNAME IS %0
echo MyDriveLetter is %MyDriveLetter%
echo MyPath is %MyPath%
echo MyName is %MyName%
echo MyExtension is %MyExtension%

PAUSE

answered Mar 14, 2012 at 19:59

Yordan Georgiev

5,4902 gold badges60 silver badges58 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to extract a folder name from a path stored in a variable with CMD?

2 Answers 2

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related