Problem with search and replace batch file

Question

I have an XML file and I have a batch file to search for a specific string within that file, replace it with a string defined by the user and then output it to a new XML fil

Answer 1

check out my answered question about the exact same topic, it was answered perfectly.

how to replace a string on the second line in a text file using a batch file?

hope this helps!

Answer 2

You need to create the empty file entities_1.xml, because for some obscure reason >> won't create it with cmd as shell.
So use TYPE NUL > entities_1.xml just before your FOR loop, to create a zero-byte long file.

Answer 3

It's the wrong way of receiving a line by set str=%%G while the delayed expansion is enabled.
It's because the delayed expansion phase is after the %%v expansion phase.

With disabled delayed expansion you got the problem, that you can not replace the string in a safe way. So you have to toggle the delayed expansion.

@echo off > entities_1.xml
setLocal DisableDelayedExpansion

if exist entities_1.xml del entities_1.xml
set /p name= What is the new space NAME?

for /f "tokens=* delims= " %%G in (entities.xml) do (
    set str=%%G
    setLocal EnableDelayedExpansion
    set str=!str:[Test Space]=[%name%]!
    >> entities_1.xml echo(!str!
    endlocal
)

Switching the redirection, so you didn't append always a space.
Using echo(, so you get not echo is on if the !str! is empty.