PowerShell command in batch file where double quotes are required inside the command

Question

I try to invoke a PowerShell command within a batch file:

powershell -Command "(gc test.txt ) -replace ("~\[","`r`n[") | sc test.txt"

But it always fails with this error:

At line:1 char:29
+ (gc test.txt ) -replace (~\[,`r`n[) | sc test.txt
+                             ~
Missing argument in parameter list.
    + CategoryInfo          : ParserError: (:) [], ParentContainsErrorRecordEx
   ception
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : MissingArgument

I try with single quotes for the replace strings:

powershell -Command "(gc test.txt ) -replace ('~\[','`r`n[') | sc test.txt"

But the backtick escape character is treated like any other text character when it appears within a string enclosed in single quotes.

Martin Brandl · Accepted Answer · 2016-06-13T12:06:21.897

1

Just escape the double quotes using a backslash:

powershell -Command "(gc test.txt ) -replace (\"~\[\",\"`r`n[\") | sc test.txt"

edited Jun 13 '16 at 12:06

answered Jun 13 '16 at 12:01

Martin Brandl

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the single quotes aren't even necessary, escaping the double quotes is sufficient. – Gerald Schneider Jun 13 '16 at 12:02
@GeraldSchneider I get an error if I don't put the command in single quotes - don't you? – Martin Brandl Jun 13 '16 at 12:03
I only get the error `ERROR: Unrecognized command` when I put the command in single quotes. – Gerald Schneider Jun 13 '16 at 12:04
1

@GeraldSchneider You are right, I was testing this within PowerShell... Thanks for the hint. – Martin Brandl Jun 13 '16 at 12:06
1

powershell -Command "(gc test.txt ) -replace (\"~\[\",\"`r`n[\") | sc test.txt" works. Thank you. – I M Jun 13 '16 at 12:10

PowerShell command in batch file where double quotes are required inside the command

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