String=ABCDE Echo %String:~0,1% This Returns "A" I want to substitute one or all of the numbers in the trim function with a predefined variable or another string. (ie) lets assume I have a %Counter% string. So If counter = 2 If I was to substitute this into the above string It would look like this. Echo %String:~0,%Counter%% or %String:~0,!Counter!% The result you want is "AB", but the output can't be processed as the syntax of the way that the %counter% is entered is not correct. Can you help me correct the syntax so that it can process the request?

Wrong forum. This has nothing to do with DOS. ========================= @echo off & setLocal EnableDELAYedExpansion set str=ABCDE set N=2 echo !str:~0,%N%! ===================================== Helping others achieve escape felicity M2