Extract specific text from text file using batch

Question

I'm trying to extract specific text from a text file using batch code. The file from which I need to extract data will have multiple lines of text and the number of lines will vary, which means the position of the indicators will change as well. Here's a sample of the text file:

File 1:

<File>
<General>
   <Primary_1>1.2.3.4.5</Primary_1>
   <Secondary_2>9.8.7.6.5</Secondary_2>
</General>
<Main_List>
   <Details="Title" One="C:\Folder1\Folder2\Folder3\Folder4\Folder5" Two="I" Three="4"/>
</Main_List>
</File>

I've gone through some manipulation already and extracted the lines that contain the data I need from the text file and saved it to two separate text files so I end up with this:

File 2:

   <Primary_1>1.2.3.4.5</Primary_1>

File 3:

<Details="Title" One="C:\folder1\folder2\folder3\folder4" Two="A" Three="5"/>

I searched around and couldn't find anything that quite fit the bill. The closest I found was the "...on the same line..." code (Extract part of a text file using batch dos), but I kept getting errors. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

foxidrive · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-21 16:16:10Z

2

Try this when both lines are in file.txt

It works for the txt as given, if TABs aren't in the file.

@echo off
for /f "tokens=2 delims=<> " %%a in ('find "<Primary_1>" ^< "file.txt" ') do echo "%%a"
for /f "tokens=2 delims==" %%a in ('find "<Details =" ^< "file.txt" ') do SET "xtitle=%%a"
SET ntitle=%xtitle:~1%
SET xtitle="%xtitle%"
ECHO +%ntitle%+ or +%xtitle%+ - your choice...

There is a more robust method using a helper batch file if your wanted text contains spaces.

(little tickle by Magoo - allows spaces in the quoted "Title" string - but I don't know whether the requirement is for quoted or unquoted variable contents...so you get both. (no extra charge)

edited Jan 21, 2014 at 16:16

answered Jan 21, 2014 at 14:39

foxidrive

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2 Comments

user3208239 Over a year ago

The first "for" line worked perfectly and pulled the correct information...the "1.2.3.4.5" data. However, the second "for" line pulled "Details" instead of "Title". Am I missing something? Thanks.

user3208239 Over a year ago

My bad. Looks like I missed a space in the third file as follows: <Details ="Title" One="C:\folder1\folder2\folder3\folder4" Two="A" Three="5"/> How would I modify the delims in the second for statement to accommodate this space? The space is between the word Details and the equals sign. Thanks again.

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