Change a string within a line from a text file using batch

Question

I have text file (saved as *.pm but I assume it does not make any difference as it can be open as a text file). The content of the file looks something like:

Header

$VAR1 = {
          'Keywords' => {
                               'X' => '80',
                               'Target_Path' => 'Example_PAth',
                               'Y' => 'File_Path',
                               'X' => '80',
                               'Y' => 'File_Path',
                               'X' => '80',
                               'Y' => 'File_Path',
               sdefkjnhksdf  koijsef ökiljsdf
               sdefkjnhksdf  koijsef ökiljsdf
               sdefkjnhksdf  koijsef ökiljsdf

I want to change Example_PAth to Example_PAth_New using a *.bat file.

For this I have the following code:

@echo off
setlocal disableDelayedExpansion

:Variables
set InputFile=OldFileName.pm
set OutputFile=NewFileName.pm
set "_strFind=Example_PAth"
set "_strInsert=Example_PAth_New"

:Replace
>"%OutputFile%" (
  for /f "usebackq delims=" %%A in ("%InputFile%") do (
    if "%%A" equ "%_strFind%" (echo %_strInsert%) else (echo %%A)
  )

)

Problem: The resulting file is identical to the original one. I assume I am not reading the string properly? Or does anyone have an idea how to fix the code?

Update: I now modified the searched and substituted strings to include the whole line as mentioned by @Squashman. It works perfectly if the searched strings does not include the > character. If I keep the >, the line is detected properly but it will be replaced by a blank line. Any workaround? PS: I can't omit the > character.

So you are thinking that 'Target_Path' => 'Example_PAth', will be equal to Example_PAth. That is essentially what your code is doing. — Squashman
– Squashman, Commented Nov 8, 2018 at 13:53
Ok thanks for the clarification. But how can I make it look for the string only? — user2536125
– user2536125, Commented Nov 8, 2018 at 14:07
There is not any line that is equal to Example_PAth, just a part of a line. I suggest you to change your if line by these two: set "line=%%A" and echo !line:%_strFind%=%_strInsert%!, and EnableDelayedExpansion. — Aacini
– Aacini, Commented Nov 8, 2018 at 14:13
@Aacini , this has written 'Example_PAth_New' at every single line! — user2536125
– user2536125, Commented Nov 8, 2018 at 15:03
Did you changed the setlocal disableDelayedExpansion line by setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion one as I said in my previous comment? — Aacini
– Aacini, Commented Nov 8, 2018 at 16:03

Aacini · Accepted Answer · 2018-11-09 03:30:57Z

1

I modified the original code accordingly to the recommendation I gave 12 hours ago and tested it to prove it works (after the OP said in an Update 10 hours ago that there is not a solution yet).

@echo off
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion

:Variables
set InputFile=OldFileName.pm
set OutputFile=NewFileName.pm
set "_strFind=Example_PAth"
set "_strInsert=Example_PAth_New"

:Replace
>"%OutputFile%" (
   for /f "usebackq delims=" %%A in ("%InputFile%") do (
      set "line=%%A"
      echo !line:%_strFind%=%_strInsert%!
   )
)

OutputFile:

Header
$VAR1 = {
          'Keywords' => {
                               'X' => '80',
                               'Target_Path' => 'Example_PAth_New',
                               'Y' => 'File_Path',
                               'X' => '80',
                               'Y' => 'File_Path',
                               'X' => '80',
                               'Y' => 'File_Path',
               sdefkjnhksdf  koijsef ökiljsdf
               sdefkjnhksdf  koijsef ökiljsdf
               sdefkjnhksdf  koijsef ökiljsdf

answered Nov 9, 2018 at 3:30

Aacini

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3 Comments

user2536125 Over a year ago

it worked. I miss interpreted your comment and inserted your suggestion solution within the if action and did not remove the il/else block

user2536125 Over a year ago

I tried to use your solution with another text file. but it seems it has a problem with !. IT deleted all ! and inserted ECHO is off. at some other positions

user2536125 Over a year ago

I managed to solve the !problem. But the ECHO IS OFF is still written when line is empty

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Change a string within a line from a text file using batch

Problem: The resulting file is identical to the original one. I assume I am not reading the string properly? Or does anyone have an idea how to fix the code?

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Problem: The resulting file is identical to the original one. I assume I am not reading the string properly? Or does anyone have an idea how to fix the code?

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