Question

I would like to convert this /bin/sh syntax into a widely compatible Windows batch script:

host=`hostname`
echo ${host}

How to do this so that it’ll work on any Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 machine?

To clarify: I would then like to go on in the program and use the hostname as stored in the variable host. In other words, the larger goal of the program is not to simply echo the hostname.

Answer 1

I usually read command output in to variables using the FOR command as it saves having to create temporary files. For example:

FOR /F "usebackq" %i IN (`hostname`) DO SET MYVAR=%i

Note, the above statement will work on the command line but not in a batch file. To use it in batch file escape the % in the FOR statement by putting them twice:

FOR /F "usebackq" %%i IN (`hostname`) DO SET MYVAR=%%i
ECHO %MYVAR%

There’s a lot more you can do with FOR. For more details just type HELP FOR at command prompt.