for ... %%i variables can be used between call operators

[andry81]

Tested on:

Windows XP x86 SP3

Windows XP x64 SP2

Windows 7 x64

Windows 8.1 x64

Tests:

https://github.com/andry81/contools--debug/tree/HEAD/test_for_vars_between_calls.bat

@echo off

setlocal DISABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION

echo for /F

setlocal & for /F "tokens=* delims="eol^= %%i in ("123&|!<") do endlocal & call :TEST
goto NEXT

:TEST
setlocal & for /F "tokens=* delims="eol^= %%j in ("321") do endlocal & echo;%%i & echo;%%j
echo;=%%i=
setlocal & for %%a in (:) do endlocal & echo;=%%i=
exit /b 0

:NEXT

echo;---

echo for in

setlocal & for %%i in (:^!123^& :^<456^|) do endlocal & call :TEST
goto NEXT

:TEST
setlocal & for %%j in (:321 :654) do endlocal & echo;%%i & echo;%%j
echo;=%%i=
setlocal & for %%a in (:) do endlocal & echo;=%%i=
exit /b 0

:NEXT

echo;---

echo for in with %%* in nested for in

for %%i in (:123^| :456^&) do call :TEST %%i
goto NEXT

:TEST
for %%j in (%*) do echo;%%j
exit /b 0

:NEXT

echo;---

echo for in with %%i in nested for in

for %%i in (:123^| :456^&) do call :TEST
goto NEXT

:TEST
for %%j in (%%i) do echo;%%j
exit /b 0

:NEXT

echo;---

echo for in with %%i in nested for in (workaround)

for %%i in (:123^| :456^&) do call :TEST
goto NEXT

:TEST
for %%a in (:) do for %%i in (%%i) do echo;%%i
exit /b 0

:NEXT

echo;---

Results:

for /F
123&|!<
321
=%i=
=123&|!<=
---
for in
:!123&
:321
:!123&
:654
=%i=
=:!123&=
:<456|
:321
:<456|
:654
=%i=
=:<456|=
---
for in with %* in nested for in
:123
:456
---
for in with %i in nested for in
%i
%i
---
for in with %i in nested for in (workaround)
:123|
:456&
---

Note

Additionally, the variables does survive the setlocal context switch.

Note

You have to use another for statement to use an external for variable.

Note

for %%i in statement does use a file globbing feature, so you have to avoid a file globbing characters like ? and *, otherwise cmd.exe will issue QueryDirectory calls on a value and a value or the for range can change.

Note

The for %%a in (:) do for %%i in (%%i) do statement gains a valid result.