Re^5: Filename Surrounded by Quotes in a Scalar Variable Causes Open to Fail

C:\>cd with a space

C:\with a space>
[download]

I think this is a very special case in cmd.exe (and maybe also in command.com): cd/chdir needs exactly one parameter since MS DOS 1.0, so if it is passed more than one, cmd.exe silently combines them into a single parameter.

Alexander

--
Today I will gladly share my knowledge and experience, for there are no sweeter words than "I told you so". ;-)

Comment on Re^5: Filename Surrounded by Quotes in a Scalar Variable Causes Open to Fail Select or Download Code

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re^6: Filename Surrounded by Quotes in a Scalar Variable Causes Open to Fail by syphilis (Archbishop) on Sep 14, 2020 at 13:38 UTC
I think this is a very special case in cmd.exe Yes, it's true that there are shell commands that do need the quotes (eg `copy` and `move`) but `set` is another command that does not need them. Running `set PATH=%PATH%;C:\with a space` works as intended. Anyway, it seems to me that the need for quotes is by no means specific to windows. Last night I indicated that `cd` on Windows doesn't need the quotes, though `cd` on Linux does. Tonight, I've noticed that `set` on Windows doesn't need the quotes, though `export` on Linux does. It's pretty clearly inaccurate to present the need for double quotes as a Windows thing - though I guess it could be argued that Bill wasn't actually claiming it was windows-specific. Cheers, Rob.	[reply] [d/l] [select]

Replies are listed 'Best First'.

Re^6: Filename Surrounded by Quotes in a Scalar Variable Causes Open to Fail
by syphilis (Archbishop) on Sep 14, 2020 at 13:38 UTC

I think this is a very special case in cmd.exe

copy

move

set

set PATH=%PATH%;C:\with a space

cd

set

export

Bill

was

[reply]
[d/l]
[select]