I need to capture the default output from a command-line application. Example of the default output "sample msg 01" If this default message is throw than I want to catch that information and write my own message. Snippet of the code that calls this application. for /f "delims=" %%a in ('myApp.exe ^|FIND /V /I "stripInfo01"') do ( echo ^<pre^>^<span style="font-size: 12pt"^>%%a ^</span^>^</pre^> )

What exactly does your code not do that you need it to?

The code work fine, but I found out during QA testing that the code does not write the result correctly when the data point does not exist in the system log files. The external binary that I am calling does not have a method to disable default messages. When this message is thrown to %%a, I want to compare that string to another string and than write my own message. I am thinking something like this: for /f "delims=" %%a in ('myApp.exe ^|FIND /V /I "stripInfo01"') do ( if %%a == "default string" echo ^<pre^>^<span style="font-size: 12pt"^>"No events found." ^</span^>^</pre^> else ( // if events exist this will display them. echo ^<pre^>^<span style="font-size: 12pt"^>%%a ^</span^>^</pre^> ))

The if statement is one of the most important in any language, it's well worth looking up the language specific syntax "if /?" at the command line... for /f "delims=" %%a in ('myApp.exe ^|FIND /V /I "stripInfo01"') do ( if "%%a"=="default string" ( echo ^<pre^>^<span style="font-size: 12pt"^>"No events found." ^</span^>^</pre^> ) else ( rem if events exist this will display them. echo ^<pre^>^<span style="font-size: 12pt"^>%%a ^</span^>^</pre^> ) )

Thanks. After some more testing I found that the string that I need to catch is being displayed on two lines. I determine this by adding some additional code: echo %%a message one . message two \\: pause echo %%a message two \\: pause echo %%a message two \\: pause How can I trap "message one ." and message two \\: in the compare function below? if "%%a"=="message two. message two \\:"

Perhaps something like this may help.... setlocal enabledelayedexpansion <your for loop> do ( if "%%a"=="default mesage 1" ( set default=1 ) else ( if "!default!"=="1" if "%%a"=="default message2" ( rem your replacement message ) ) ) You may also have to add your other stuff into an if statement so it doesn't get executed when the default message is output.

Sorry for the delayed response, I have been away. Here are the real strings: When my query produces results the first string is: Security log on \\: and then the results are displayed I want the batch to process the results from this positive query. I would like to strip the string "Security log on \\:" from the output. When my query produces no results the first string is: Security log on \\: and the second string is: No records in Security event log on . I would like the batch to capture these strings and display a custom message.