Question

I am trying to iterate a string in batch script:

set var="1 2 3"

for /F %%i in (%var%) do (  
  echo %%i
)

and getting this output:

C:\>batch.bat


C:\>set var="1 2 3"

C:\>for /F %i in ("1 2 3") do (echo %i )

C:\>(echo 1 )
1

I expect that all 3 numbers will be printed:

1
2
3

What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

That’s because FOR/F splits a each line into multiple tokens, but you need to define how many tokens you want to process.

set var="1 2 3"

for /F "tokens=1-3" %%i in (%var%) do (  
  echo %%i
  echo %%j
  echo %%k
)

EDIT: Other solutions

Like the answer of Ed harper:
You could also use a normal FOR-loop, with the limitation that it will also try to serach for files on the disk, and it have problems with * and ?.

set var=1 2 3

for %%i in (%var%) do  (
    echo %%i
)

Or you use linefeed technic with the FOR/F loop, replacing your delim-character with a linefeed.

setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
set LF=^


set "var=1 2 3 4 5"
set "var=%var: =!LF!%"
for /F %%i in ("!var!") do (  
  echo %%i
)

This works as the FOR/F sees five lines splitted by a linefeed instead of only one line.