Timestamp in Batch File not Updating Properly -

i'll start off saying i'm new scripting...

i'm trying create batch file periodically pings host. @ moment, i'm testing on local pc. here's i've got far:

@echo off  set servername=127.0.0.1 set limit=3  echo %date%, %time% starting ping test localhost>>c:\users\%username%\desktop\pingtest.txt  /l %%x in (1,1,%limit%) (  ping %servername% -n 3 | find "reply" >>c:\users\%username%\desktop\pingtest.txt  echo %time% >>c:\users\%username%\desktop\pingtest.txt  timeout /t 5  )  exit 

however, timestamp stays same. should show time being ~5 seconds after (or long timeout value set), stays same first timestamp. here's example of output:

25/08/2015,  2:09:18.34 starting ping test localhost reply 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms ttl=128 reply 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms ttl=128 reply 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms ttl=128  2:09:18.34  reply 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms ttl=128 reply 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms ttl=128 reply 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms ttl=128  2:09:18.34  reply 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms ttl=128 reply 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms ttl=128 reply 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms ttl=128  2:09:18.34  

is there way update proper time?

as side note, "for /l %%x in..." can't figure out should put in place of %%x. googling etc, i've seen people using different ones, can't seem figure out refers to. if let me know well, it'd appreciated.

thanks

at 1 point or another, literally every person scripts in batch fall delayed expansion trap.

basically, when batch script first run, variables in %variable% format replaced actual values. when have code inside of code block (i.e. between ( , )), variables may need update, can't, since presence of variable has been replaced value. around this, can put setlocal enabledelayedexpansion @ top of script , use !variable! format - tells script these need stay changeable.

@echo off setlocal enabledelayedexpansion  set servername=127.0.0.1 set limit=3  /l %%x in (1,1,%limit%) (     ping %servername% -n 3 | find "reply" >>c:\users\%username%\desktop\pingtest.txt     echo !time! >>c:\users\%username%\desktop\pingtest.txt     timeout /t 5 ) 

and side note, %%x variable chosen used in loop. can 1 letter long, , it's time batch variable case-sensitive. in case, can (%%x fine) since you're not using directly , you're using run code 3 times.