I'm trying to get a batch file to remove %SUBSET% from %VARIABLE%, and let me use the remainder as %RESULT%. However, I can't seem to get the SET command to parse a nested string; SET RESULT=%VARIABLE:%SUBSET%=% ...for instance, sets %RESULT% equal to SUBSET...not the value of the variable %SUBSET%, but the string SUBSET. Replacing the % symbols with ! symbols gives the same result. I've been able to work around this by using ECHO to build a second, temporary batch file where %SUBSET% is rendered as a literal string, and reading the output of that batch file into a temporary text file and back into the calling batch file, but that's pretty roundabout. Anybody know how to do a simple string replace with two variables? I'm on XP.

add a call in front of the statement call SET RESULT=%%VARIABLE:%SUBSET%=%%

setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion set RESULT=!VARIABLE:%SUBSET%=! When using variable of variable the ! must mark the outer one.

Thanks, guys! I tested both solutions, and they both do exactly what I needed. You guys just made my script %20 faster - great work. ~Mike