Search code examples
batch-filebatch-rename

Rename a string from the middle of another string in a batch loop?

I want to remove a known string .doc from the middle of a variable string %%f in a loop.
I have a batch file that converts a Word file to PDF:

echo  Converting MS Word documents to PDF . . .
cd /D "%mypath%\documents"
for /f "delims=|" %%f in ('dir *.doc /S /B') do ( Q:\OfficeToPDF.exe "%%f" "%%f.pdf" )

Problem: The output files are named myfile.doc.pdf where I don't know the length of myfile in advance.

--> How can I remove .doc from that string?
Alternatively, replace .doc. with . would achieve the same goal. I think I need this kind of string substitution but I can't get it to work within that for loop. It would almost be like this, but it doesn't work:

for [...] do ( set outname=%%f:.doc.=.% && Q:\OfficeToPDF.exe "%%f" "%outname%" )

I've seen this and this (as well as many other questions) but I didn't see a solution that works in a loop. I found a Linux solution for it but that doesn't directly help me.

Solution

  • The for replaceable parameters can include a list of delimiters to extract only part of the content in the case of file/folder references (see for /?)

    In your case %%~dpnf.pdf will return the drive, path, and name of the input file, with the string .pdf attached.

    for /f "delims=" %%f in ('dir *.doc /S /B') do ( Q:\OfficeToPDF.exe "%%f" "%%~dpnf.pdf" )

    Or still better

    for /r %%f in (*.doc) do ( Q:\OfficeToPDF.exe "%%~ff" "%%~dpnf.pdf" )

    where %%~ff is the reference to the file with full path