How can I pass arguments to a batch file?

Question

I need to pass an ID and a password to a batch file at the time of running rather than hardcoding them into the file.

Here\'s what the command line looks like:

Answer 1

I wrote a simple read_params script that can be called as a function (or external .bat) and will put all variables into the current environment. It won't modify the original parameters because the function is being called with a copy of the original parameters.

For example, given the following command:

myscript.bat some -random=43 extra -greeting="hello world" fluff

myscript.bat would be able to use the variables after calling the function:

call :read_params %*

echo %random%
echo %greeting%

Here's the function:

:read_params
if not %1/==/ (
    if not "%__var%"=="" (
        if not "%__var:~0,1%"=="-" (
            endlocal
            goto read_params
        )
        endlocal & set %__var:~1%=%~1
    ) else (
        setlocal & set __var=%~1
    )
    shift
    goto read_params
)
exit /B

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Limitations

• Cannot load arguments with no value such as -force. You could use -force=true but I can't think of a way to allow blank values without knowing a list of parameters ahead of time that won't have a value.

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Changelog

• 2/18/2016
  • No longer requires delayed expansion
  • Now works with other command line arguments by looking for - before parameters.