How to echo variable, where is "^&"? (Batch File)

Question

Is there any possibility to set variable "Message1 & Message2" and echo that variable?

For example:

set var=Message1 ^& Message2
echo %var%

It shows that "Message2" is not a command.

(if you put "echo Message1 ^& Message2" it will shows "Message1 & Message2" normally.)

Use `set "var=Message1 ^& Message2"` in first line to define the message with `^` and `&` assigned to `var`. Then the caret character is also on line `echo Message1 ^& Message2` on execution and `^` is interpreted as escape character for the ampersand. I recommend also reading answer on [Why is no string output with 'echo %var%' after using 'set var = text' on command line?](https://stackoverflow.com/a/26388460/3074564) — Mofi, Oct 11 '18 at 15:25

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 11 '18 at 15:25

4

You need to add quotes like this

set "var=Message1 ^& Message2"
echo %var%

answered Oct 11 '18 at 15:25

RGuggisberg

4,630
2
18
27

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 11 '18 at 15:26

3

you have various options:

@echo off
set var=Message1 ^^^& Message2
echo a %var%

set "var=Message1 ^& Message2"
echo b %var%

set "var=Message1 & Message2"
echo c %var:&=^&%

answered Oct 11 '18 at 15:26

Stephan

53,940
10
58
91

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 11 '18 at 16:05

If you use the quoted syntax of the set command (which requires the command extensions to be enabled, but that is the default anyway) and use delayed expansion, you do not even have to escape anything:

set "var=Message1 & Message2"
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
echo(!var!
endlocal

How to echo variable, where is "^&"? (Batch File)

3 Answers3