The batch script run by itself from the cmd line works fine and sets the environment variables as expected. Even from within the Perl script - the set statements in the batch script output the said environment variables. The issue is not with the batch script. I am wondering why the last two print statements in the Perl script give me the error they do - or how do I make the environment variables stay put in the cmd window ? It seems that once the batch script is run (from within the perl script) - it wipes out the environment variables that are set and are not even recognized from within the same perl script...if that is the case how can I use those environment variables in the perl script ?