How can I check if an argument is defined when starting/calling a batch file?

batch-file arguments
Daniel Fortunov picture Daniel Fortunov · May 6, 2009 · Viewed 107.6k times · Source

I'm trying to use the following validation logic in a batch file but the "usage" block never executes even when no parameter is supplied to the batch file.

if ("%1"=="") goto usage

@echo This should not execute

@echo Done.
goto :eof

:usage
@echo Usage: %0 <EnvironmentName>
exit 1

What am I doing wrong?

Answer

Iain picture Iain · May 6, 2009

The check for whether a commandline argument has been set can be [%1]==[], but, as Dave Costa points out, "%1"=="" will also work.

I also fixed a syntax error in the usage echo to escape the greater-than and less-than signs. In addition, the exit needs a /B argument otherwise CMD.exe will quit.

@echo off

if [%1]==[] goto usage
@echo This should not execute
@echo Done.
goto :eof
:usage
@echo Usage: %0 ^<EnvironmentName^>
exit /B 1

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