single line for statement: %%i 'unexpected at

Question

for /r %%i in (*) do (echo %%i)

Results in

%%i was unexpected at this time

Why?

Answer 1

Syntax:

FOR /R [[drive:]path] %%parameter IN (set) DO command

Need the path before %%i... which is why it's Unexpected

If you want to do * for current directory, just use ".\" for the path

for /r ".\" %%i in (*) do (echo %%i)

Answer 2

You must be trying to run the command from the command line and not from within a batch file. Use a single % instead of two when running from the command line.

for /r %i in (*) do (echo %i)

Type HELP FOR from the command line and read the 3rd paragraph.