How to Use Array in Windows Batch Programming?

Can you use arrays in the simple windows batch programming? The answer is yes, but we have to use some tricks to emulate the arrays.

@echo off
:: helloacm.com batch programming tutorials
:: create arrays in batch
set len=3
set obj[0]=A
set obj[1]=B
set obj[2]=C

set i=0
:loop
if %i% equ %len% goto :eof
for /f "usebackq delims== tokens=2" %%j in (`set obj[%i%]`) do (
	echo %%j
)
set /a i=%i%+1
goto loop

We have to define variables using set and the length has to defined first. The above script will print A, B, C in three lines and we treat obj[0], obj[1] and obj[2] as three individual variables (their memory address locations are not continuous).

We can use set obj[%i%] to get strings for obj[0], obj[1], and obj[2] and we use the for to further evaluate the value. Base on the same principle, we can also create arrays of struct (records) like this:

@echo off
:: helloacm.com batch programming tutorials
:: create arrays of structures in batch
set len=3
set obj[0].Name=Name1
set obj[0].Value=Value1
set obj[1].Name=Name2
set obj[1].Value=Value2
set obj[2].Name=Name3
set obj[2].Value=Value3

set i=0
:loop
if %i% equ %len% goto :eof

set cur.Name=
set cur.Value=
for /f "usebackq delims==. tokens=1-3" %%j in (`set obj[%i%]`) do (
	set cur.%%k=%%l
)
echo Name=%cur.Name%
echo Value=%cur.Value%

set /a i=%i%+1
goto loop

It creates an array of 3 elements (record) and prints out:

Name=Name1
Value=Value1
Name=Name2
Value=Value2
Name=Name3
Value=Value3

–EOF (The Ultimate Computing & Technology Blog) —