batch-file Variables in Batch Files Declaration
Example
To create a simple variable and assign it to a value or string use the SET command:
SET var=10
Here, the code declares a new variable var with a value of 10. By default all variables are stored internally as strings; this means that the value 10 is no different to foo1234 or Hello, World!
Notes about quotation marks
Quotation marks used will be included in the variable's value:
SET var="new value" <-- %var% == '"new value"'
Spaces in variables
Batch language considers spaces to be acceptable parts of variable names. For instance, set var = 10 will result in a variable called var that contains the value 10 (note the extra space to the right of var and the left of the 10).
Using quotation marks to eliminate spaces
In order to prevent spaces, use quotation marks around the entire assignment; the variable name and value. This also prevents accidental trailing spaces at the end of the line (the ␣ character denotes a space):
SET␣var=my␣new␣value␣ <-- '%var%' == 'my new value '
SET␣"var=my␣new␣value"␣ <-- '%var%' == 'my new value'
Also, use quotation marks when joining multiple statements with & or | - alternatively, put the symbol directly after the end of the variable's value:
SET var=val & goto :next <-- '%var%' == 'val '
SET "var=val" & goto :next <-- '%var%' == 'val'
SET var=val& goto :next <-- '%var%' == 'val'
