How do you use SETLOCAL in a batch file?

How do you use `setlocal` in a batch file? I am just learning scripting and would like it explained to me in very simple terms.

I have a script that stops and says `< was unexpected at this time` it may have something to do with not having any `setlocal` statements in the script.

Suppose this code:

If "%getOption%" equ "yes" (
set /P option=Enter option:
echo Option read: %option%
)

Previous code will NOT work becase %option% value is replaced just one time when the IF command is parsed (before it is executed). You need to "delay" variable value expansion until SET /P command had modified variable value:

setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
If "%getOption%" equ "yes" (
set /P option=Enter option:
echo Option read: !option!
)

Check this:

set var=Before
set var=After & echo Normal: %var% Delayed: !var!

Guess what the output is...

You make the first line `SETLOCAL`. This example is from the linked article below:

rem *******Begin Comment**************
rem This program starts the superapp batch program on the network,
rem directs the output to a file, and displays the file
rem in Notepad.
rem *******End Comment**************
@echo off
setlocal
path=g:\programs\superapp;%path%
call superapp>c:\superapp.out
endlocal
start notepad c:\superapp.out

The most frequent use of `SETLOCAL` is to turn on command extensions and allow delayed expansion of variables:

SETLOCAL ENABLEEXTENSIONS ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION

For more info on `SETLOCAL` see the [Command Line Reference][1] at Microsoft TechNet.

Direct link to [Setlocal][2]


[1]:

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[2]:

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Try this:

`SET PATH=%PATH%;%~dp0;`

This will get your local folder your are running the batch from and add it to the current path.

**example**: if your are running a `.bat` or `.cmd` from `d:\tools\mybatch.bat`
it will add `d:\tools` to the current path so that it may find additional files on that folder.