RTOS/CC2630: IAR Command Line Build Failure: Variable expansion failed for Pre-Build command line

Tool/software: TI-RTOS

I have a perfectly functioning build in the IAR IDE, but I need to automate builds for testing and with the following command line:

C:\Program Files (x86)\IAR Systems\Embedded Workbench 7.2\common\bin\IarBuild.exe" msa_cc2650.ewp MyDebugConfig

from the location:

C:\MeRepo\MyProject\CC26xx

I'm getting the following error message (added CRs to help with readability):

Building configuration: msa_cc2650 - MyDebugConfig
Updating build tree...
Variable expansion failed for Pre-Build command line.
Offending text:
"
"$PROJ_DIR$\version.bat"
"$PROJ_DIR$" & "$XDCROOT$/xs"
--xdcpath="$XDCPATH$" iar.tools.configuro
-c "$TOOLKIT_DIR$"
--cc "$COMPILER_PATH$"
--device "$DEVICE$"
--compileOptions $COMPILER_ARGS_ROOT_QUOTED$
--linkOptions $LINKER_ARGS_QUOTED$
--profile release
--projFile "$PROJ_PATH$"
"

My project directory looks like

C:\MeRepo\MyProject\

--source      <<<sub directory>>>

--CC26xx   <<<sub directory>>>

      msa_cc2650.eww

      msa_cc2650.ewp

     version.bat

    ----MyDebugConfig      <<<This sub directory gets created under --CC26xx when I build configuration in the IDE>>>

I've also tried executing:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\IAR Systems\Embedded Workbench 7.2\common\bin\IarBuild.exe" CC26xx\msa_cc2650.ewp MyDebugConfig

from 

C:\MeRepo\MyProject\

and I get the same results.  The error message is a bit thin.  Is there a way to get more details?  My pre build BAT file works just fine in the IDE so I'm not clear on the next steps?

thanks