replace variable output in one batch from another batch

Question

The user manually types, in a window, the input data, which is stored in variables. Then the batch does an "echo" of the variables that contain the data that the user entered (first.bat):

set source=%HOMEDRIVE%\test\data.txt
mydialogbox=%HOMEDRIVE%\test\myprogram_dialogbox.exe

SetLocal EnableDelayedExpansion

:: dialog box
for /f "tokens=1-3 delims=" %%i in ('%mydialogbox% --forms --title="Dialog" --text="Set Data" --add-entry="USER" --add-entry="PASSWORD" --add-entry="DBNAME" --separator=","') do (
  set line=%%i 
  echo(!line: =!> %source%
)
IF EXIST %source% (GOTO setdata) else (GOTO end)

:setdata
FOR /F "eol=; tokens=1-3 delims=," %%A IN (%source%) DO (
    set dbuser=%%A
    set dbpass=%%B
    set dbname=%%C
)
echo your imput: %dbuser% %dbpass% %dbname%

out e.g.:

your input: mydb zuckerberg dadada

So I need to replace this values (of these variables: %dbuser% %dbpass% %dbname%) in another script (second.bat)

set dbname=foo
set dbuser=bar
set dbpass=blabla

expected output (Change cannot be dynamic, but permanent):

set dbname=mydb
set dbuser=zuckerberg
set dbpass=dadada

how I do this?

PS: On linux this is easy

sed -e "s:$dbuser:zuckerberg:g" second.bat

PS: If what I'm asking doesn't work, then is there a way to use the output of the %dbuser% %dbpass% %dbname% variables from first.bat into second.bat

thanks

Update:

1. I am using fart-it and it has worked:

first.bat:

fart.exe second.bat "zuckerberg" "%dbuser%"
fart.exe second.bat "dadada" "%dbpass%"
fart.exe second.bat "mydb" "%dbname%"

But I have to execute 3 times the same command for each replacement. And I would like to know if there is another solution (.bat, .cmd) that does not depend on external programs

2. Another solution is to put the output of the "echo" in variables in second.bat:

first.bat:

echo your imput: %dbuser% %dbpass% %dbname%

second.bat:

FOR /F "tokens=*" %%g IN ('echo %dbuser%') do (SET myuser=%%g)
etc

but this does not permanently replace the values of variables of the second script (which is what I want).

3. Another solution is this (first.bat):

(for /f "tokens=1* delims=:" %%a in (%source%) do (
 if "%%b"=="" (echo %%a) else (
  echo %%a|find " id" >null&& echo %%a: ||echo %%a: %%b
 )
))>second.bat

But I have not been able to adjust it to my interests, since it rewrites the output (does not search and replace the strings)

4. Another solution is with replacer.bat:

call replacer.bat "second.bat" "zuckerberg" "%dbuser%"

It has the same problems as fart-it. I have to run a command for each replacement (this is not very optimized for my code) and would depend on an external script.

Answer 1

Passing in classic batch script cmd arguments when executing the second.bat should do this no problem. Using this method eliminates the need altogether to even have to change any content of second.bat.

It essentially makes second.bat dynamic and uses the passed in argument paramater(s) as variables which contain the placeholder values (e.g. %~1,%~2, etc.) for the passed in argument values (e.g "flockingbird" "clockingmerge" "wishyword").

Second.bat

SET "dbuser=%~1"
FOR /F "tokens=*" %%g IN ('echo %dbuser%') do (SET "myuser=%%~g")
etc

Executing

You can choose whatever method works best for executing or calling the second.bat script whether using call, start, something like second.bat "flockingbird" or any other ways that works to pass in the argument value at execution time of second.bat

---

Another Example

Batch

@echo off
set "dbname=%~1"
set "dbuser=%~2"
set "dbpass=%~3"

echo %dbname%
echo %dbuser%
echo %dbpass%

pause

To Execute

C:\Folder\second.bat "flockingbird" "clockingmerge" "wishyword"

Output

flockingbird
clockingmerge
wishyword

---

Supporting Resources

• Command line parameters

  Batch files can only handle parameters %0 to %9

  %0 is the program name as it was called, %1 is the first command line parameter, %2 is the second command line parameter, and so on till %9.

• Pass Command Line arguments (Parameters) to a Windows batch file

  %~1 Expand %1 removing any surrounding quotes (")

• Start

• Call

  CALL a second batch file

  The CALL command will launch a new batch file context along with any specified parameters. When the end of the second batch file is reached (or if EXIT is used), control will return to just after the initial CALL statement.

  Arguments can be passed either as a simple string or using a variable:

  CALL MyScript.cmd "1234" CALL OtherScript.cmd %_MyVariable%

Answer 2

You can use the call function to pass the variables.

%source% in your code, I will reference as file.txt here.

file.txt contents:

really,big,rabbit

test1.bat contents:

FOR /F "eol=; tokens=1-3 delims=," %%A IN (file.txt) DO (
    set dbuser=%%A
    set dbpass=%%B
    set dbname=%%C
)
call test2.bat

test2.bat contents:

@echo OFF
echo db user is %dbuser% 
echo db pass is %dbpass%  
echo the dbname is %dbname%

Now if you run test1.bat in cmd, you get as the output:

db user is really
db pass is big
the dbname is rabbit

test2.bat is where you can put the variables that need to run as your second batch to do something with those parameters.

Answer 3

You can't share local variables among CMD sessions.

You need to use a global mechanism for making them accessible from another session, for example a common file, the registry or system variables (see the command setx).

Answer 4

Here's an example of the the logic involved in handling a first run initialization. Additional validation of data passed as arguments by user input strongly recommended.

@Echo off

Set "var1="
Set "var2="
Set "var3="

Rem if file called with 3 arguments
If not "%~3" == "" (
    If not exist "%TEMP%\%~n0_firstrun.dat" (
        <nul set /p "=Initiallizing... "
        Rem assumes delayed expansion state is disabled
        Set "var1=%~1"
        Set "var2=%~2"
        Set "var3=%~3"
        >"%TEMP%\%~n0_firstrun.dat" (
            Setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
                Echo Set "var1=!var1!"
                Echo Set "var2=!var2!"
                Echo Set "var3=!var3!"
            Endlocal
            Rem optional - use conditional operator to flag write permission / filename error to calling script
        ) || (
            Echo Failed - Permission or Filename error
            exit /b 1
        )
        Rem Optional - guard initialization file from accidental user deletion
        REM Attrib +R "%TEMP%\%~n0_firstrun.dat"
        echo - Initiallization Complete
    )
) Else If not exist "%TEMP%\%~n0_firstrun.dat" If not "%~1" == "" If "%~3" == "" (
    Echo Initiallization Failed - Insufficient arguments provided
    Exit /B 2
)
cls
Rem attempt to load the variables.
Rem flags error in the event user has deleted the initialization file 
(For /f "UsebackQ delims=" %%G in ("%TEMP%\%~n0_firstrun.dat")Do %%G) || (
    Rem user has deleted the initialization file
    Exit /b 2
)

Set Var
Pause