Batch file throws error but when each command is run individually in command line it works fine

Question

My batch file is throwing error when run, but when I run the commands one by one manually in command line then I get no error. Here's the batch file 'test.bat'.

echo "test"
cd "c:\packages"
pause
for /R c:\packages %F in (*.msi) do set /A servername=%~nxF
pause
echo %servername%
pause

I get this error - "~nxF was unexpcted at this time".

I got the sample code from https://stackoverflow.com/a/1100466/1105556 I'm just trying the get the file name in c:\packages & store the value in 'servername' variable. There is only one file (.msi) in the folder I cant figure out whats wrong. Can someone please solve the riddle for me?

Ken White · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-28 03:42:04Z

4

You need to double the %% in batch files:

for /R c:\packages %%F in (*.msi) do set /A servername=%%~nxF

answered Jan 28, 2012 at 3:42

Ken White

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6 Comments

arx Over a year ago

Also, set /A evaluates the RHS as an arithmetic expression, which probably isn't wanted.

Sudhakar Over a year ago

Thank you Ken & @arx. Took both suggestions & it worked. Just out of curiosity what is RHS. I googled it but couldn't find any thing relevant

Ken White Over a year ago

@Sudhakar: RHS = Right Hand Side. /A takes everything to the right of it and tries to use it as an arithmetic expression (eg., 1 + 1 * 3

Sudhakar Over a year ago

Thank you Ken. Appreciate your time.

Kailash Dabhi Over a year ago

It works ! But can you tell me why we have to add double % on batch file?

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