Pass batch variables with spaces in them to powershell script?

Question

I have a batch/powershell script that I use to make a list of all my movies and tv series but have run into a small problem, I can't have spaces in my batch variables when passing them to the powershell script.

I have tried all kinds of combos of ' and " around the variables without any luck.

My batch variables

SETLOCAL enabledelayedexpansion
SET "listfolder=%CD%\ContentList\"

SET "listname1=TVSeries"
SET "RootFolder1=\\SERVER\Storage\TV Series\"
SET "Folder1Width=70"
SET ScanFolder1=TRUE

My batch code to run and pass variables to powershell

"%listfolder%Script\Powershell.exe" -executionpolicy remotesigned -File "%listfolder%Script\folder1list.ps1" %RootFolder1% %listname1% %Folder1Width%

My powershell script code to set the variables.

param([String]$RootFolder1, [String]$listname1, [int32]$Folder1Width)

This is the error I get if I have space in %RootFolder1% path, without spaces all three variables get passed to powershell just fine.

C:\Users\hflat\Desktop\Folder Content List Maker v4.5\ContentList\Script\folder1list.ps1 : Cannot process argument
transformation on parameter 'Folder1Width'. Cannot convert value "TV" to type "System.Int32". Error: "Input string was
not in a correct format."

I found the solution here How to pass in a string with spaces into PowerShell?

What did work was to use a cmd wrapper with /S to unwrap outer quotes and removing my own path to powershell.exe

cmd /S Powershell.exe -executionpolicy remotesigned -File "%listfolder%Script\folder1list.ps1" "%RootFolder1%" "%listname1%" "%Folder1Width%"

Did you try single or double quoting the arguments? '%RootFolder1%' '%listname1%' '%Folder1Width%' — Squashman
– Squashman, Commented Apr 11, 2019 at 20:23
cmd /S /C Powershell.exe -executionpolicy remotesigned -File "%listfolder%Script\folder1list.ps1" "%RootFolder1%" "%listname1%" "%Folder1Width%" This did work, apparently the path to powershell.exe itself made some problems. — Håvard Flatøy
– Håvard Flatøy, Commented Apr 11, 2019 at 20:26
Any environment variable value you want to pass as a single argument must be enclosed in "...". You don't need cmd /c to invoke powershell.exe. It's unclear if you still have a problem: if you found a solution, please share it as an answer, if you think it'll be of interest to future readers; if not, please consider deleting your question. — mklement0
– mklement0, Commented Apr 12, 2019 at 1:23

Håvard Flatøy · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-12 06:01:42Z

0

I found the solution here How to pass in a string with spaces into PowerShell?

What did work was to use a cmd wrapper with /S to unwrap outer quotes and removing my own path to powershell.exe

cmd /S Powershell.exe -executionpolicy remotesigned -File "%listfolder%Script\folder1list.ps1" "%RootFolder1%" "%listname1%" "%Folder1Width%"

answered Apr 12, 2019 at 6:01

Håvard Flatøy

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