I'm having some trouble with DOS's built in batch substring utility. For example, if I want to take a substring from a string MYVAR from index 4 to the end I would do a: set mysubstr=%MYVAR:~4% But, what if the starting index is a variable itself? (i.e. START_INDEX is equal to 4). I have not been able to figure this out because I need to start at various places with different strings (and the index is always in a variable). Any help is appreciated.

@echo off > quit.bat if %START_INDEX%'==' quit goto %START_INDEX% :1 set mysubstr=%MYVAR:~1% quit :2 set mysubstr=%MYVAR:~2% quit :3 set mysubstr=%MYVAR:~3% quit :4 set mysubstr=%MYVAR:~4% M2 Mechanix2Go@Golden-Triangle.com

A general way to achieve your goal is to enable the "delayed variable expansion" and so to be able to use the ! symbol other than the well known % to manage variables. As the delayed expansion is not enabled by default you need to set it on via the /V:On switch on the tail of Cmd.exe; that implies to auto-call the batch to start the process. The following sample should clarify what stated: @Echo Off If not %1.==[]. (Cmd /V:On /C Call %0 [] %1 & GoTo :EOF) Shift Set MyVar=ABCDEFGHKILMNOP Set MySubStr=!MyVar:~%1! Echo [!MySubStr!] where you have to type "V position" (e.g. V 1, V 6, V 0.....) V being the batch name. The If statement (that fits just one line) enables the delayed expansion and performs the auto-call (%0 []). If position is another variable then the external one holds ! and the inner % i.e. Set MySubStr=!MyVar:~%MyPos%!

IVO, Cool beans! Been trying to figure out delayed expansion for weeks. M2 Mechanix2Go@Golden-Triangle.com