Use PowerShell variables in cmd command not working

Question

I am having difficulty with executing a command line in cmd from Powershell. The problem is I can't seem to use my global variables in the command line when cmd is opened from Poweshell. Below is the code I am working with but to no avail. Can someone please provide guidance on this issue?

Start-Process -FilePath "C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe" -verb RunAs -ArgumentList {/k set Name="$cmdname" set Item="$cmditem" setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion echo "%Name%" }

Thanks, Roger

possible duplicate. And you can't just concat several commands on a cmd command line like that. It's `command1 & command2 & command3`` — Stephan
– Stephan, Commented Jul 21, 2022 at 19:17
It would help if you were to explain your goal (so as to avoid the "XY problem"). — Bill_Stewart
– Bill_Stewart, Commented Jul 21, 2022 at 19:29
setlocal won't have an effect when being executed in Command Prompt context (so in a command line in cmd.exe /K or cmd /C), it only works in a batch file. You could however use cmd /V:ON … to enable delayed expansion. Nevertheless, enabling alone is not enough, you also have to use it, like !Name! rather than %Name%… — aschipfl
– aschipfl, Commented Jul 22, 2022 at 13:46

Cpt.Whale · Accepted Answer · 2022-07-21 19:26:04Z

3

The syntax is awkward for sure:

Start-Process -FilePath "C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe" -ArgumentList "/k set Name=$cmdname & set Item=$cmditem & call echo %name%"

Some of the reasoning here is:

cmd: additional commands need to be separated by &
cmd: the set command takes everything after = until special characters like &
cmd: setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion doesn't really apply here. Use call to delay instead.
- delayed variable syntax is also !var! rather than %var%
Powershell: using brackets in -ArgumentList {stuff} sends as a literal string, and variables aren't expanded

answered Jul 21, 2022 at 19:26

Cpt.Whale

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1 Comment

aschipfl Over a year ago

Instead of call echo %name% you should perhaps use call echo %^name% for the case a variable name is already defined in advance…

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