Question

How to increment counter variable in "DOS" batch file

Asked by: Sharp2b

I try to create a batch file to run under Windos XP in a command window (or just double clicking the BAT file).

The intention is to take all files with a given extension, concatenate them and add some extra information "between the files". To do this, I need to add a counter value like 1 for the first file, 2 for the second and so on. I have managed to solve all other problems to output what I need but the counter variable is not updated as long as I'm inside the FOR loop. See the attached code example. Put it in a BAT file and run it to see the problem. The last echo after the FOR loop gives the correct value.

Any hints are much appreciated.

@echo off
 
set /A Counter=1
 
echo Initial value of Counter: %Counter%
echo.
 
for %%f in (*.*) do (
	echo File found: %%f
	echo Counter Before increment: %Counter%
	set /A Counter+=1
	echo Counter After Increment: %Counter%
	echo.
)
 
echo Counter after for loop: %Counter%

                                  
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Asked On
2008-05-26 at 04:51:44ID23432479
Tags

DOS batch file

Topics

MS DOS

,

Windows XP Operating System

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
4

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Answers

 

by: angelIIIPosted on 2008-05-26 at 04:57:11ID: 21645859

please try this


set /A Counter=%Counter%+1

                                              
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by: Sharp2bPosted on 2008-05-26 at 05:07:02ID: 21645911

Thanks for a quick reply but that doesn't work.
The "Counter After Increment" is still 1 for all iterations and now the "Counter after for loop" has the value of 2 when the script ends.

 

by: QlemoPosted on 2008-05-26 at 05:22:12ID: 21645988

You will have to enable delayed variable expansion, this will allow for evaluating the variables when they appear (enclosed in !), while %-Expansions takes place when batch is parsed.

@echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
 
set /A Counter=1
 
echo Initial value of Counter: %Counter%
echo.
 
for %%f in (*.*) do (
        echo File found: %%f
        echo Counter Before increment: !Counter!
        set /A Counter+=1
        echo Counter After Increment: !Counter!
        echo.
)
 
echo Counter after for loop: %Counter%

                                              
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by: Sharp2bPosted on 2008-05-26 at 05:31:42ID: 31461228

Great, thanks a lot!!!
That was not obvious at all to me, I didn't even know one could use the "!" around variables and I spent several hours Googling for this.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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