There Is another way yet to achieve this. It uses vbs script to get input and assign it to a variable, -The script can be created within and called from .bat files.
I developed this method as an alternative to accepting user input from set /p in order to validate input and prevent setting of variables with spaces or special characters.
*Validation methods omitted as does not relate to the question
Best method is to have the script generator as a secondary .bat file that you can call, as it allows for a lot of versatility regarding the information the vbs input box conveys, as well as being able to be used in any circumstance within one or more .bat files you want to be able to control input defaults with.
In your main program, when Preparing to get input-
REM Define title:
Set inputtitle=The title you want the input box to have
REM Declare variable to be assigned:
Set variableforinput=VariableName
REM Define the default Variable Value:
Set defaultinput=VariableName's Desired Default Value
REM getting the Input:
CALL "inputscript.bat" %inputtitle% %variableforinput% %defaultinput%
inputscript.bat:
@echo off
SET inputtitle=%~1
SET variableforinput=%~2
SET defaultinput=%~3
SET %variableforinput%=
SET input=
:main
REM exit and cleanup once variable is successfully defined
IF DEFINED input GOTO return
REM this creates then starts the VBS input box, storing input to a text file.
(
ECHO Dim objFSO 'File System Object
ECHO Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject"^)
ECHO Dim objTS 'Text Stream Object
ECHO Const ForWriting = 2
ECHO Set objTS = objFSO.OpenTextFile("%userprofile%\getinput.txt", ForWriting,
True^)
ECHO objTS.Write(InputBox("Please enter %variableforinput% to continue.","%inputtitle%","%defaultinput%",0,0^)^)
ECHO objTS.Close(^)
ECHO Set bjFSO = Nothing 'Destroy the object.
ECHO Set objTS = Nothing 'Destroy the object.
) >GetInput.vbs
START GetInput.vbs
REM a pause that allows time for the input to be entered and stored is required.
cls
ECHO (N)ext
CHOICE /T 20 /C nz /N /D n >nul
IF ERRORLEVEL ==2 GOTO main
IF ERRORLEVEL ==1 GOTO loadinput
:loadinput
IF NOT EXIST "%userprofile%\getinput.txt" GOTO invInput
<%userprofile%\getinput.txt (
SET /P input=
)
IF NOT DEFINED input GOTO invInput
REM opportunity for other validation of input before returning to main.
GOTO main
:invInput
SET input=
IF EXIST "GetInput.vbs" (
DEL /Q "GetInput.vbs"
)
REM ends the vbs script ready for the next attempt to provide input
taskkill /pid WScript.exe /T >nul
Timeout 1 >nul
GOTO main
REM assigns the input value to the variable name being set in Your Main program.
:return
SET %variableforinput%=%input%
SET input=
IF EXIST "%userprofile%\getinput.txt" (
DEL /Q "%userprofile%\getinput.txt"
)
IF EXIST "GetInput.vbs" (
DEL /Q "GetInput.vbs"
)
GOTO :EOF