Batch file - findstr command fails using multiple strings to search for - windows

Question

This batch file loops through a list of computer IP addresses and passwords with a comma separator (IP_List.txt). Commands are then run to connect remotely to each computer. I've got another list of IP's which are exceptions and need to be skipped, so I've got a variable (set str=) which lists these IP's and I'm using findstr to search for them:
#ECHO OFF
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
Pushd "%~dp0"
Set Log=LogFile.log
set str=172.16.66.1 172.16.66.2 172.16.66.3 172.16.66.4
FOR /F "tokens=1,2 delims=," %%i in (IP_List.txt) do call :process %%i %%j
(ECHO+ & ECHO --- END OF REPORT ---) >> %Log%
GOTO :EOF
:process
set IP=%1
set PW=%2
#ECHO %IP% | findstr "%str%" >nul
IF NOT ERRORLEVEL 1 (ECHO+ & ECHO %IP% & ECHO This IP address was skipped) >> %Log% & GOTO :EOF
#ECHO Processing %IP% >> %Log%
---- (remainder of batch file here) ----
There was a problem with findstr in that having 172.16.66.2 on the exception list, findstr was mistakenly finding a match with the following IP's on my overall list: 172.16.66.224, 172.16.66.225, 172.16.66.226, etc.
After changing the code and putting the list of IP exceptions in a text file (IP_Exceptions.txt) I was able to get past the findstr problem and this modified batch file works without issue:
#ECHO OFF
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
Pushd "%~dp0"
Set Log=LogFile.log
FOR /F "tokens=1,2 delims=," %%i in (IP_List.txt) do call :process %%i %%j
(ECHO+ & ECHO --- END OF REPORT ---) >> %Log%
GOTO :EOF
:process
set IP=%1
set PW=%2
::~~ Add a right bracket to the end of the IP address variable
SET IPstr=%IP%]%x%
set match=N
::~~ Loop through a list of IP address exceptions
::~~ (A left bracket has been added to the beginning of
::~~ each IP on the list in order to use it as a delimiter)
::~~ Add a right bracket to the end of the variable "%%j"
::~~ in order to look for a match with the findstr command
for /F "delims=[" %%i in (IP_Exceptions.txt) do (
for /F "tokens=1" %%j in ("%%i") do (
ECHO %%j] | findstr "%IPstr%" >nul
IF not errorlevel 1 set match=Y
)
)
IF %match% == Y (ECHO+ & ECHO %IP% & ECHO Skipped this machine) >> %Log% & GOTO :EOF
#ECHO Processing %IP% >> %Log%
:: ---- (remainder of batch file here) ----
The specifics of getting the findstr section to work correctly without false matches (adding brackets to variables, nested for loops with delimiters, etc.) was kind of clumsy though. Any suggestions on making that section more efficient would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

A modified batch file works but it's clumsy:
#ECHO OFF
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion
Pushd "%~dp0"
Set Log=LogFile.log
FOR /F "tokens=1,2 delims=," %%i in (IP_List.txt) do call :process %%i %%j
(ECHO+ & ECHO --- END OF REPORT ---) >> %Log%
GOTO :EOF
:process
set IP=%1
set PW=%2
::~~ Add a right bracket to the end of the IP address variable
SET IPstr=%IP%]%x%
set match=N
::~~ Loop through a list of IP address exceptions
::~~ (A left bracket has been added to the beginning of
::~~ each IP on the list in order to use it as a delimiter)
::~~ Add a right bracket to the end of the variable "%%j"
::~~ in order to look for a match with the findstr command
for /F "delims=[" %%i in (IP_Exceptions.txt) do (
for /F "tokens=1" %%j in ("%%i") do (
ECHO %%j] | findstr "%IPstr%" >nul
IF not errorlevel 1 set match=Y
)
)
IF %match% == Y (ECHO+ & ECHO %IP% & ECHO Skipped this machine) >> %Log% & GOTO :EOF
#ECHO Processing %IP% >> %Log%
:: ---- (remainder of batch file here) ----

Answer 2

Your subroutine could look like this:
...
:process
echo/ %str% |findstr /LC:" %1 " >nul && (
echo %1 skipped
goto :eof
)
echo processing %1 with %2
:: ---- (remainder of batch file here) ----
Note that I reversed the "search" logic (to make it easier to process spaces correctly)
Instead of echo <sub>|findstr <whole>, I switched to echo <whole> |findstr <sub>
Note: the spaces in echo/ %str% |findstr /LC:" %1 " are critical (they are also compared to avoid false positives).
/LC: tells findstr to search literal (treating the dot as a dot instead of a wildcard) and including spaces.