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From: derek@sun4dts.dts.ine.philips.nl (derek)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc
Subject: Re: Getting rid of "syntax error" from .bat files - how to?
Message-ID: <635@sun4dts.dts.ine.philips.nl>
Date: 6 Dec 90 09:54:38 GMT
References: <9467@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU> <5649@uafhp.uark.edu>
Lines: 42

sab@engr.uark.edu (Steven A. Breuer) writes:

>In article <9467@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU>, brand@cad.Berkeley.EDU (Graham Brand) writes:
>> I have written a batch file which accepts parameters from the command
>> line using the:
>> 	if %1==param1
>> syntax. It works fine except that if I don't pass any parameters, I
>> get the above syntax error message. Is there any way to suppress this?
>> 
>> In addition, is there any way of passing a string, the first character
>> of which is a dash (-), as in -f? It doesn't seem to work with the
>> above test.
>> 

>     Batch files have trouble with blank parameters (none).  try the
>     following "if" statements.  It is a good idea to surround the parameters
>     with some character - this should take of errors happening because
>     of no parameters.  This should also allow you to use the dash (-) as
>     part of a parameter.

>     if "%1"=="" goto NOPARMS

>     if "%1"=="param1" goto PARAM1


>     Steve Breuer
>     sab@engr.uark.edu

You can also use the following trick that I often use:

 	if "%1"=="" goto NOPARMS

	goto %1

	rem here handle incorrect parameters.

The "goto %1" branches to the label passed as parameter 1. This is especially
useful in a batch file calling itself. (Think about it!)

Best Regards, Derek Carr
DEREK@DTS.INE.PHILIPS.NL           Philips I&E TQV-5 Eindhoven, The Netherlands 
Standard Disclaimers apply.