Running .cmd/.bat script in Powershell

Question

I'm trying to write and execute a .cmd script in powershell. The code I have for this is:

$script = @'
@echo off
SETLOCAL

CALL something here
'@

Invoke-Expression -Command: $script

This is based off this link which explains the here string in powershell. It's at the bottom of the link. Here's the related msdn.

Here's another related link to someone trying to do the same thing.

I keep getting an error that has to do with including the '@' operator within the string:

Invoke-Expression : At line:1 char:7
+ @echo off
+       ~~~
Unexpected token 'off' in expression or statement.
At line:1 char:1
+ @echo off
+ ~~~~~
The splatting operator '@' cannot be used to reference variables in an expression. '@echo' can be used only as an argument to a command. To reference variables in an expression use '$echo'.

I've tried escaping the '@' symbol, and a plethora of other things. I'd like to know why it seemed to work for them in the third link, but throws this error in my case.

Edit: Writing to a .bat file then running the bat file resulted in the same error:

$batchFileContent = @'
@echo off
c:\windows\system32\ntbackup.exe backup "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows NT\NTBackup\data\chameme.bks" /n "1file.bkf1 created 06/09/2013 at 09:36" /d "Set created 06/09/2013 at 09:36" /v:no /r:no /rs:no /hc:off /m normal /j chameme /l:s /f "\\fs1\Exchange Backups$\1file.bkf"
'@

$batchFileContent | Out-File -LiteralPath:"$env:TEMP\backup.cmd" -Force

Invoke-Expression -Command:"$env:TEMP\backup.cmd"

Remove-Item -LiteralPath:"$env:TEMP\backup.cmd" -Force

As Bill Stewart pointed out, I should write the content of the .cmd script in powershell.

Edit: This

$script = @'
cmd.exe /C "@echo off"
cmd.exe /C "SETLOCAL"

cmd.exe /C "CALL something here"
'@

Invoke-Expression -Command: $script

Seems to work.

Why do you need to do it? Just do whatever you need to do in PowerShell directly. — Bill_Stewart
– Bill_Stewart, Commented Jul 23, 2015 at 20:23
Invoke-Expression will invoke Powershell commands. To execute batch commands, save them in a batch file and execute cmd.exe with that file as a parameter. Alternatively you can enter a cmd.exe session within powershell then execute individual commands — EBGreen
– EBGreen, Commented Jul 23, 2015 at 20:24
@Bill_Stewart I was so intent on finding a way to run the script, that I didn't think to have powershell do it. At this point I am curious why it wasn't working for me, though I will probably end up using powershell instead. — Speerian
– Speerian, Commented Jul 23, 2015 at 20:35

briantist · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-23 20:26:02Z

2

This happens because Invoke-Expression interprets your string with PowerShell. PowerShell allows you to run shell commands, but it interprets things as PowerShell first. The @ character is the splatting operator in PowerShell.

You should save the commands in a batch file, and then execute that.

Or you can execute single line commands by shelling out to cmd.exe:

Invoke-Expression "cmd.exe /c @echo something"

answered Jul 23, 2015 at 20:26

briantist

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