How can I return multiple values from a powershell script to the batch file that is calling it? - powershell

Question

How can I return multiple values from a powershell script to the batch file that is calling it?
I have a powershell script that returns multiple values. I want to call it from a batch file and have each individual value go into an individual variable in the batch file.
Only been able to return one value
The powershell code (pstest.ps1):
$p1=11
$p2=22
$p3=33
exit
The batch file:
powershell .\pstest.ps1
:: now I'd like to get those 3 returned values
:: into 3 individual variables so that I can do something like this:
#echo First is %p1%, Second is %p2%, Third is %p3%
So, it should display this:
First is 11, Second is 22, Third is 33

Answer 1

In the exact same way you get several values from any application: one per line...
#echo off
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
set "i=0"
for /F "delims=" %%a in ('powershell "$p1=11; $p2=22; $p3=33; $p1; $p2; $p3"') do (
set /A i+=1
set "p!i!=%%a"
)
echo First is %p1%, Second is %p2%, Third is %p3%
I suggest you to read this answer about arrays...

Answer 2

For a more flexible solution using delayed expansion that doesn't require making the PowerShell script output all values on a single line and works with a variable number of outputs, see Aacini's helpful answer.
Assuming that the number of values is fixed and known in advance:
Make the PowerShell script output a single line containing all the values with a known separator.
In the batch file, use for /f "delims=... tokens=..." to capture the values in discrete loop variables, which you can assign to regular variables.
A simplified example that uses a PowerShell command to produce a single-line output with 3 values separated by | (to apply this to your scenario, use -File with your *.ps1 file instead of -c (-Command) with a command string):
#echo off
for /f "delims=| tokens=1,2,3" %%a in ('powershell -c " '11|22|33' "') do set "p1=%%a" & set "p2=%%b" & set "p3=%%c"
:: echo the values of the newly created variables
echo p1: [%p1%]
echo p2: [%p2%]
echo p3: [%p3%]
The above yields:
p1: [11]
p2: [22]
p3: [33]

Answer 3

Apart from using environment variables, you could try something like this base on SachaDee's answer here:
PS:
function get-multiplereturnvalues {
"11"
"22"
"33"
}
get-multiplereturnvalues
BATCH/CMD
#echo First is %p1%, Second is %p2%, Third is %p3%
for /f "delims=" %%a in ('powershell .\multi.ps1') do #echo "$Value=%%a"
Which outputs:
"$Value=11"
"$Value=22"
"$Value=33"

Answer 4

Within the PowerShell script I‘d create a temp file with the results. Within the batch file, after calling the PowerShell script, I‘d parse that temp file with FOR /F in order to get the results and set environment variables as required.