set "link2='^&format=json" 

should set link2 as you require (you don't say...)

With an argument of hello, echoing the "chrome" line produces

"chrome.exe" "https://query.yahooapis.com/v1/public/yql?q=select * from geo.places where text='hello'&format=json"

for me - and produces no error report.

set "link2='^&format=json" 

should set link2 as you require (you don't say...)

With an argument of hello, echoing the "chrome" line produces

"chrome.exe" "https://query.yahooapis.com/v1/public/yql?q=select * from geo.places where text='hello'&format=json" 

for me - and produces no error report.

set "link2='^&format=json" 

should set link2 as you require (you don't say...)

set "link2='^&format=json" 

should set link2 as you require (you don't say...)

With an argument of hello, echoing the "chrome" line produces

"chrome.exe" "https://query.yahooapis.com/v1/public/yql?q=select * from geo.places where text='hello'&format=json"

for me - and produces no error report.