# Trying to use Windows Env variable in "External Tools" command line arguments

**URL:** <https://forum.robotframework.org/t/trying-to-use-windows-env-variable-in-external-tools-command-line-arguments/3836>\
**Category:** Robot Framework\
**Created:** [19 May 2022 14:35 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/trying-to-use-windows-env-variable-in-external-tools-command-line-arguments/3836 "2022-05-19T14:35:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CTinMich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@CTinMich](https://forum.robotframework.org/u/CTinMich)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2022 14:35 UTC](https://forum.robotframework.org/t/trying-to-use-windows-env-variable-in-external-tools-command-line-arguments/3836/1 "2022-05-19T14:35:09Z")

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Hey All… My env variables are not resolving and is being pulled into robot as a literal “%…%” string. Anyone know what is wrong with trying to use:

“–variable TUM\_ID:%TUM\_ID% --variable TUM\_PASSWD:%TUM\_PASSWD%”

Windows cli resolves the variable fine (using echo %TUM\_ID%).

Robot command output shows it not resolving:

robot -A C:\Code\Projects\WSB\D2C-robot-tests\robot-tests\envParams\WSB\_ROW\qaEnvironment\_wsb.txt --outputdir C:\Code\Projects\WSB\D2C-robot-tests\robot-tests\tests\WSB\_ROW\Results **–variable TUM\_ID:%TUM\_ID% --variable TUM\_PASSWD:%TUM\_PASSWD%** --test “ConCom Dashboard Header Component - Logo Element” C:\Code\Projects\WSB\D2C-robot-tests\robot-tests\tests\WSB\_ROW\Agent\_Assist\_Dashboard.robot