Put command output into a variable

Question

Given a directory with the following files

image1.txt
image2.txt
image3.txt

I want to get the oldest file (let the files be sorted by data, oldset date first):

dir /b /od c:\test\image?.txt | findstr ^1

That works great when manually typing it into cmd.exe. Now (in a batch script) I want to put the output of this command in a variable. How can I do this? Thank you!

Update: Wondering if there is a direct way without usng a loop?

score 3 · Answer 1 · edited Jun 17 '14 at 11:57

3

For /F %%A in ('"dir /b /od C:\test\image*.txt|findstr ^1"') do set myVar=%%A

You could do it through For loop, try that in command line, I just tested it and it works fine

Output:

set myVar=image1.txt

On executing Set on command line you can see:

myVar=image1.txt
NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS=2

edited Jun 17 '14 at 11:57

Gerold Meisinger

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answered Apr 12 '12 at 20:13

Habib

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Thank you, I updated my question, I am wondering if there is a way without the loop – stefan.at.kotlin Apr 12 '12 at 20:15
1

You should avoid expressions like `set myVar=%A`, as it creates a variable with a space, so you have to use `%myVar %`/`%myVar%` to expand it – jeb Apr 12 '12 at 20:32
@stefan.at.wpf I don't know of any other way than using a temporary file as jeb has already mentioned in his answer – Habib Apr 13 '12 at 05:40

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 12 '12 at 20:36

2

There isn't a direct way, the FOR-Loop is one way or the other way is set /p with a temporary file.

dir /b /od c:\test\image?.txt | findstr ^1 > oldest.tmp
< oldest.tmp set /p myVar=

answered Apr 12 '12 at 20:36

jeb

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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 15 '18 at 16:20

Example:

wmic path Win32_VideoController get CurrentHorizontalResolution | FINDSTR [0-9] > X.txt 'Output in a file
wmic path Win32_VideoController get CurrentVerticalResolution | FINDSTR [0-9] > Y.txt
wmic path Win32_VideoController get CurrentRefreshRate | FINDSTR [0-9] > Hz.txt
wmic path Win32_VideoController get CurrentBitsPerPixel | FINDSTR [0-9] > Bits.txt
set /p X= < X.txt 'Input from a file
set /p Y= < Y.txt
set /p Hz= < Hz.txt
set /p Bits= < Bits.txt
set X=%X: =% 'Remove the spaces
set Y=%Y: =%
set Hz=%Hz: =%
set Bits=%Bits: =%
DEL /q X.txt 'Delete file created
DEL /q Y.txt
DEL /q Hz.txt
DEL /q Bits.txt

Four steps.

score -2 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 12 '12 at 20:09

-2

set variableName = dir /b /od C;\test\image?.txt | findstr ^1

note: this is untested. Source:

Google

answered Apr 12 '12 at 20:09

Trevor Jones

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I also expected this behaviour before posting here, but it's not working that way for outputs of other commands – stefan.at.kotlin Apr 12 '12 at 20:15
And it doesn't work. cmd.exe will only set `variableName` to `dir /b /od C;\test\image?.txt` but will not execute it. But as there is a pipe it will execute `findstr 1` in a new cmd-context. And at the end even `variableName` will be empty. – jeb Apr 12 '12 at 20:40

Put command output into a variable

4 Answers4

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