How can I replace a character in a textfile or in a variable using a batch file?

e.g. first line in textfile
= $/Andrew Project:

If I store this in a variable:
set /P directory = < file.txt

I would then like to replace the colon : with a a forward slash / so it becomes:
$/Andrew Project/

This way can I use the directory variable and file variables from the textfile for visual source safe commands (ss history and ss pin etc).

incorrect directory because of colon! :
$/Andrew Project:defs.h

correct directory after replacing text
$/Andrew Project/defs.h

Thank you

Andrew Ashcroft

C:\>set var== $/Andrew Project:
C:\>echo %var:~0,-1%
= $/Andrew Project
C:\>set newpath=%var:~0,-1%/
C:\>echo %newpath%
= $/Andrew Project/

If you can afford to have GNU sed or awk, you can do string substitution easily.

[code]
C:\>echo = $/Andrew Project: | sed "s/:/\//"
= $/Andrew Project/
[/code]

Set directory=%directory::=/%

Thank you that seems useful. Even better if I can use Unix commands, I will try that tommorow.