Reading Text Files into MS-DOS Environment Variables

This article describes the several steps needed to use the results of a query (using the FIND filter) as a replaceable parameter in a one or more batch files. A use for this would be to search for a specific file and then perform some action on or with this file. The file could then be used in one or more batch files as a replaceable parameter.

First, you need to set up a one-line file with the partial command with no carriage return (CR) or linefeed (LF) at the end (this can be done with COPY CON by pressing CTRL+Z after the equal sign [=] and pressing ENTER).

The file would look like this on the screen: The following steps can be issued from the MS-DOS command prompt or from within a batch file:

1. Search for a single directory entry and place the results in a text file.

         dir | find "dos" > textfile

2. Append the two files into one batch file using the COPY command as follows:

         copy init.txt+textfile varset.bat

3. Place the contents of the text file in a variable by running VARSET.BAT.

VARSET.BAT sets an environment variable equal to the directory entry found earlier. This allows the environment variable to be used as a replaceable parameter in later batch files. VARSET.BAT can be called from the command prompt or from within another batch file.

NOTE: This process works for directory names only if MS-DOS 5.0 or 6.0 is being used. Under MS-DOS 5.0 and 6.0, the /B switch must be used when you are searching for a directory name. The following is an example of searching for a directory under MS-DOS 5.0 or 6.0. NOTE: There is still a 127-character limit to the length of this variable, which includes the variable name and equal sign (=).