Parameters

A parameter (or argument) is any value passed into a batch script:

C:> MyScript.cmd January 1234 “Some value”

Parameters may also be passed to a subroutine with CALL:

CALL :my_sub 2468

You can get the value of any parameter using a % followed by it’s numerical position on the command line. The first item passed is always %1 the second item is always %2 and so on

%* in a batch script refers to all the arguments (e.g. %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 …%255)

Parameter Extensions

When a parameter is used to supply a filename then the following extended syntax can be applied:

we are using the variable %1 (but this works for any parameter)

  • %~f1 Expand %1 to a Fully qualified path name - C:\utils\MyFile.txt

  • %~d1 Expand %1 to a Drive letter only - C:

  • %~p1 Expand %1 to a Path only e.g. \utils\ this includes a trailing \ which may be interpreted as an escape character by some commands.

  • %~n1 Expand %1 to a file Name without file extension C:\utils\MyFile or if only a path is present (with no trailing backslash) - the last folder in that path.

  • %~x1 Expand %1 to a file eXtension only - .txt

  • %~s1 Change the meaning of f, n, s and x to reference the Short 8.3 name (if it exists.)

  • %~1 Expand %1 removing any surrounding quotes (“)

  • %~a1 Display the file attributes of %1

  • %~t1 Display the date/time of %1

  • %~z1 Display the file size of %1

  • %~$PATH:1 Search the PATH environment variable and expand %1 to the fully qualified name of the first match found.

The modifiers above can be combined:

  • %~dp1 Expand %1 to a drive letter and path only

  • %~sp1 Expand %1 to a path shortened to 8.3 characters

  • %~nx2 Expand %2 to a file name and extension only

These parameter/ argument variables are always denoted with a single leading % This is unlike regular variables which have both leading and trailing %’s such as %variable%, or FOR command variables which use a single leading % on the command line or a double leading %% when used in a batch file.

Source: http://ss64.com/.