Using wmic to get workgroup in a batch file

Question

I'm not really versed in batch file, but I am trying to get the workgroup using wmic. I've been trying different things with the for options. So far this is the best result I have gotten.

for /f "skip=1" %%a in ('wmic computersystem get workgroup') do echo %%a

This returns what I want, but it is also echoing something else because it gives an echo is off message. I also want to set the workgroup to a variable such as something like this.

for /f "skip=1" %%a in ('wmic computersystem get workgroup') do set "myVar=%%a"

This doesn't return anything though. I'm assuming I need to use tokens and/or delims, but I just don't have the knowledge to get it to work correctly.

If anyone could assist me on this I would be much appreciated and perhaps it will help me learn a bit more about how to use the for loop. I know this is probably something very simple, so please excuse me for being so ignorant.

Answer 1

It is also echoing something else because it gives an echo is off

This is because wmic is (badly written and) outputs a blank line at the end of the output.

You can use findstr /r /v "^$" to remove the blank line.

Using a batch file:

@echo off
setlocal
for /f "usebackq skip=1 tokens=*" %%i in (`wmic computersystem get workgroup ^| findstr /r /v "^$"`) do set myVar=%%i
echo %myVar%
endendlocal

Using a command line:

for /f "usebackq skip=1 tokens=*" %i in (`wmic computersystem get workgroup ^| findstr /r /v "^$" ^| findstr /r /v "^$"`) do @set myVar=%i && echo %myVar%

Notes:

• for /f loops through the wmic output.
• skip=1 skips the header line (containing VariableValue)
• findstr /r /v "^$" removes the trailing blank line from the wmic output.

Example output:

> wmic computersystem get workgroup
Workgroup
WORKGROUP


> for /f "usebackq skip=1 tokens=*" %i in (`wmic computersystem get workgroup ^| findstr /r /v "^$" ^| findstr /r /v "^$"`) do @set myVar=%i && echo %myVar%
WORKGROUP

>

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Further Reading

• An A-Z Index of the Windows CMD command line - An excellent reference for all things Windows cmd line related.
• findstr - Search for strings in files.
• for /f - Loop command against the results of another command.
• wmic - Windows Management Instrumentation Command.