<hmm> I was in error then in my thinking. I always thought that under a RW>RW>command prompt using win 9x one could utilize
env vars but under xp and later they weren't available.

I C&P some text from XP Help and Support, maybe it will help You.

I'm not running it, but was always under the impression you
couldn't use them, but ...
I"m running vanilla 6.22 here.
IF you're running from a command prompt they're available,
but not if you're running the batch under the gui is the way somebody else RW>describes it to me.

Richard,

"I think", using XP from either a command/cmd prompt or the Run box in
the GUI that Environmental Variables can be entered as long as a per
cent sign is affixed to each end of the Environmental Variable.

Shields are down, Fire Away! ;-)


* SLMR 2.1a #T348 * Teamwork is vital. It gives you someone else to blame.
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5
* Origin: Doc's Place BBS Fido Since 1991 docsplace.tzo.com (1:123/140)

MS-W XP has something strongly resembling traditional BATch language, but the CHOICE command does not exist! How do I adapt my good old BATch programs to accept user input from an onscreen pick list, like BATch CHOICE, or BASIC's SELECT CASE?

--- BBBS/LiI v4.01 Flag
* Origin: Prism bbs (1:261/38)

Hi! Rick,

On 16 May 10 19:11, you wrote to All:

MS-W XP has something strongly resembling traditional BATch language,
but the CHOICE command does not exist! How do I adapt my good old
BATch programs to accept user input from an onscreen pick list, like
BATch CHOICE, or BASIC's SELECT CASE?

It's a real culture shock, isn't it... bloody XP. I normally avoid its command
line for anything and was as surprised as you, after I read your note. I only do batch stuff for MS-DOS 7.xx (Win9x) or less these days.

You ought to be better off with some sort of drop-in replacement. Have a poke around in the BFDS (Batch File Distribution System) file area on Janis' BBS.

My personal favourite is a doover called HYLYT (HYLYT_10.ZIP 9,409 06-14-99) which provides for a mouseable menu +choice facility. There's another called "Choice Plus" (CP102.ZIP 4,070 07-25-95) that provides an elementary choice function. No guarantees that they'll run in XP of course.

There are no doubt others (I know Horst Schaeffer has a similar tool as HYLYT but I can't recall its name); it just takes time poking around...

Cheers,
Paul.

... Knock firmly but softly. I like soft firm knockers.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.4.7
* Origin: Quinn's Post - Maryborough, Queensland, OZ (3:640/384)

* An ongoing debate between Rick Ekstrom and All rages on ...

| RE> MS-W XP has something strongly resembling traditional BATch language,
| RE> but the CHOICE command does not exist! How do I adapt my good old
| RE> BATch programs to accept user input from an onscreen pick list, like
| RE> BATch CHOICE, or BASIC's SELECT CASE?

I use my own called Choose (doc's included) downloadable at

http://bellsouthpwp.net/c/m/cmech617/choose.zip

or FReq it from here, 1:393/68 direct

or Email/iRex from fido4cmech(at)bellsouth(dot)net

--
Be well :^)

: Ben aka cMech http://bellsouthpwp.net/c/m/cmech617/
:
+ WildCat! Board 24/7 +1-337-984-4794 any BAUD 8,N,1
--- GoldEd+/DOS v1.1.5cM
* Origin: FIDONet - The Positronium Repository (1:393/68)

HI RIck,

On Sun 2038-May-16 19:11, Rick Ekstrom (1:261/38) wrote to All:

MS-W XP has something strongly resembling traditional BATch
language, but the CHOICE command does not exist! How do I adapt my
good old BATch programs to accept user input from an onscreen pick
list, like BATch CHOICE, or BASIC's SELECT CASE?

If I"m recalling correctly HOrst Schaefer wrote a little
utility, choice.com in one of his batch enhancement archives which gives users of dos before 6.22 the utility of the
choice command. Have a look for HOrst's collections and
you'll find it if I"m remembering correctly, and it should
work.

Regards,
Richard
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: (1:116/901)

HEllo Ed,

On Sat 2038-Jun-12 11:19, ED VANCE (1:123/140) wrote to RICHARD WEBB:

I'm not running it, but was always under the impression you
couldn't use them, but ...
I'm running vanilla 6.22 here.
IF you're running from a command prompt they're available,
but not if you're running the batch under the gui is the way somebody else RW>describes it to me.

Richard,

"I think", using XP from either a command/cmd prompt or the Run box
in the GUI that Environmental Variables can be entered as long as a
per cent sign is affixed to each end of the Environmental Variable.

SOmebody else will have to weigh in on this one, but was
always told they weren't available. I don't gui, I couldn't tell you. Fact I've read that this echo, from other than me iirc.


Regards,
Richard
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: (1:116/901)

Hi! Richard,

I think you both are talking at cross purposes...

On 14 Jun 10 12:39, you wrote to ED VANCE:

"I think", using XP from either a command/cmd prompt or the Run
box in the GUI that Environmental Variables can be entered as long
as a per cent sign is affixed to each end of the Environmental
Variable.

Ed is talkng about a particularly sweet ability to access the -contents- of envars at a command prompt since MS-DOS 7.xx came out with Win95. E.g., at a command prompt it's possible to type:

(util) %this% %is% %a% %set% %of% %some% %envar% %names%[Enter]

When command.com evaluates the command line, it susbstitutes the values previously stored in those envars and then executes it supplying those arguments to whatever 'util' is, be it another batch or some binary tool.

It's a particularly neat way to debug batch files, using a simple copy & paste from a GUI application (editor or some such) a line at a time. (Or, even to do
a one-off run at a command prompt when something out of the ordinary day-to-day
routine happens.)

SOmebody else will have to weigh in on this one, but was always told
they weren't available.

This may have been in reference to -special- %voodoo% envars set by Windows that cannot be changed[shrug]. Although, there was talk some years back of 'global' envars not being able to be re-/set and shared with other/later command prompt dos boxes, but Microsoft fixed that with an add-on tool called WINSET that came on the Win95 install CD.

Cheers,
Paul.

... I DID read the manual! That's why I'm confused!!
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.4.7
* Origin: Quinn's Post - Maryborough, Queensland, OZ (3:640/384)

MS-W XP has something strongly resembling traditional BATch language, but CHOICE command does not exist! How do I adapt my good old BATch programs accept user input from an onscreen pick list, like BATch CHOICE, or BASIC' SELECT CASE?

I belive there is a way to do it with the set command. Here is an example of what might work.

@echo off
cls
:start
ECHO
ECHO 1. Print Hello
ECHO 2. Print Bye
ECHO 3. Print test
set choice=
set /p choice=Type the number to print text.
in not '%choice%'==" set choice=%choice:~0,1%
if '%choice%'=='1' goto hello
if '%choice%'=='2' goto bye
if '%choice%'=='3' goto test
ECHO "%choice%" is not valid please try again
ECHO.
goto start
:hello
echo hello
goto end
:bye
echo bye
goto end
:test
echo test
goto end
:end

Hope that helps..

Scott....

... Never let an inanimate object defeat you.

--- Renegade v1.18/Alpha
* Origin: The Realms of Blue BBS - blues.zapto.org (1:261/220)

Hi! Scott,

On 18 May 10 11:57, you wrote to Rick Ekstrom:

language, but CHOICE command does not exist! How do I adapt my
good old BATch programs accept user input from an onscreen pick
list, like BATch CHOICE, or BASIC' SELECT CASE?

I belive there is a way to do it with the set command. Here is an
example of what might work.

@echo off

[ ...chomp... ]

:end

Hey! That's really neat. (A whole lot better than my attempts using "COPY CON" during some testing... feeble.)

I had to change the 'if' test after input to: "if not '%choice%'=='' set..." (note the pair of single quotes rather than the single double (what a mouthful!).

You're the man.

Cheers,
Paul.

... Click ... click ... click ... damn, out of taglines!
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.4.7
* Origin: Quinn's Post - Maryborough, Queensland, OZ (3:640/384)

DOes this work under xp though? I didn't think xp would
utilize environment variables. COuld be wrong on that one
though.

if there's a shell/command prompt, there's environment variables
available... it is the scripting that's different, though... all
winwhatevers still do .BAT stuff but the real "scripting" on
winwhatevers is in their ""native"" script stuff which is very much RW>ml> like b.a.s.i.c....

<hmm> I was in error then in my thinking. I always thought that under a RW>command prompt using win 9x one could utilize
env vars but under xp and later they weren't available.

Richard,

I added the DIRCMD environment variable to XP Media Center Edition 2005.

Go to a CMD prompt and type DIRCMD/? to see all the options available.

I have it set this way: DIRCMD=/O:GNE/A/P

I C&P some text from XP Help and Support, maybe it will help You.


Setting environment variables

Environment variables are strings that contain information
such as drive, path, or file name. They control the behavior
of various programs. For example, the TEMP environment variable
specifies the location in which programs place temporary files.

Any user can add, modify, or remove a user environment
variable. However, only an administrator can add, modify,
or remove a system environment variable.

Using System in Control Panel, you can customize the
following variables:

User environment variables for logged_on_user_name
The user environment variables are different for each user
of a particular computer. The variables include any that
are set by the user, as well as any variables defined by
programs, such as the path to the location of the program files.

System environment variables
Administrators can change or add environment variables
that apply to the system, and thus to all system users.
During installation, Windows Setup configures the default
system variables, such as the path to the Windows files.



To add or change the values of environment variables

Open System in Control Panel.
On the Advanced tab, click Environment Variables,
then click the name of the user variable or system variable
you want to change, as follows.
Click:
New to add a new variable name and value.
Edit to change a current variable name and value.
Delete to remove a variable name and value.

Notes

If you are not logged on as administrator to the local
computer, the only environment variables you can change
are user variables.
To open System, click Start, click Control Panel, and then
double-click System.
Windows saves changes in the registry so they are available
automatically the next time you start your computer.
You might have to close and reopen running programs for the
new settings to take effect.


Did it help You?

73


* SLMR 2.1a #T348 * Reality is only for those who lack imagination.
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5
* Origin: Doc's Place BBS Fido Since 1991 docsplace.tzo.com (1:123/140)

HI Paul,

On Tue 2038-Jun-15 09:56, Paul Quinn (3:640/384) wrote to Richard Webb:

"I think", using XP from either a command/cmd prompt or the Run
box in the GUI that Environmental Variables can be entered as long
as a per cent sign is affixed to each end of the Environmental
Variable.

Ed is talkng about a particularly sweet ability to access the
-contents- of envars at a command prompt since MS-DOS 7.xx came out
with Win95. E.g., at a command prompt it's possible to type:

(util) %this% %is% %a% %set% %of% %some% %envar% %names%[Enter]

GOod example.

SOmebody else will have to weigh in on this one, but was always told
they weren't available.

This may have been in reference to -special- %voodoo% envars set by
Windows that cannot be changed[shrug]. Although, there was talk
some years back of 'global' envars not being able to be re-/set and
shared with other/later command prompt dos boxes, but Microsoft
fixed that with an add-on tool called WINSET that came on the Win95
install CD.

Okay, clears that up. I know that both here, and in the
usenet newsgroup, alt.msdos.batch I"ve heard that you
couldn't utilize them in the way we're accustomed.

... I DID read the manual! That's why I'm confused!!

That tagline is too true oft times <g>.


Regards,
Richard
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: (1:116/901)

HI Paul,

On Wed 2038-May-19 14:38, Paul Quinn (3:640/384) wrote to Scott Brown:

language, but CHOICE command does not exist! How do I adapt my
good old BATch programs accept user input from an onscreen pick
list, like BATch CHOICE, or BASIC' SELECT CASE?

I belive there is a way to do it with the set command. Here is an
example of what might work.

@echo off

[ ...chomp... ]

<snip>

I had to change the 'if' test after input to: "if not '%choice%'=='' set..." (note the pair of single quotes rather than the single
double (what a mouthful!).

You're the man.

DOes this work under xp though? I didn't think xp would
utilize environment variables. COuld be wrong on that one
though.
Iirc the op was querying choice under xp, so that might be a problem for him.

Regards,
Richard
... Windows: Yesterdays' software...today!
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: (1:116/901)

DOes this work under xp though? I didn't think xp would
utilize environment variables. COuld be wrong on that one
though.

if there's a shell/command prompt, there's environment variables available... it is the scripting that's different, though... all winwhatevers still do .BAT stuff but the real "scripting" on winwhatevers is in their ""native"" script stuff which is very much like b.a.s.i.c....

)\/(ark


* Origin: (1:3634/12)

HI Mark,

On Wed 2038-May-19 14:59, mark lewis (1:3634/12) wrote to Richard Webb:

DOes this work under xp though? I didn't think xp would
utilize environment variables. COuld be wrong on that one
though.

if there's a shell/command prompt, there's environment variables available... it is the scripting that's different, though... all winwhatevers still do .BAT stuff but the real "scripting" on
winwhatevers is in their ""native"" script stuff which is very much
like b.a.s.i.c....

<hmm> I was in error then in my thinking. I always thought that under a command prompt using win 9x one could utilize
env vars but under xp and later they weren't available.

Regards,
Richard
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: (1:116/901)

Hi! Richard,

On 19 May 10 13:50, you wrote to me:

I belive there is a way to do it with the set command. Here is an
example of what might work.

DOes this work under xp though? I didn't think xp would
utilize environment variables. COuld be wrong on that one
though.
Iirc the op was querying choice under xp, so that might be a problem
for him.

Yes, it worked quite well in my (ship-in-a-bottle) VirtualBox XP Home system. In this case, it was the "set /p..." operation that replaces any 'choice' function.

Who'd have thought (to look at using 'set')? That's one of those [thump forehead] "whot thuh..." moments. ;-)

It's not as *pretty* as choice but it works; it leaves artifacts (keyboard input) on a command line execution - if it were purely a BATch running as a part of a larger operation, you wouldn't see them during execution.

Cheers,
Paul.

... I got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.4.7
* Origin: Quinn's Post - Maryborough, Queensland, OZ (3:640/384)

HI Ed,

On Fri 2038-Jun-04 11:37, ED VANCE (1:123/140) wrote to RICHARD WEBB:

if there's a shell/command prompt, there's environment variables
available... it is the scripting that's different, though... all
winwhatevers still do .BAT stuff but the real "scripting" on
winwhatevers is in their ""native"" script stuff which is very much RW>ml> like b.a.s.i.c....

<hmm> I was in error then in my thinking. I always thought that under a RW>command prompt using win 9x one could utilize
env vars but under xp and later they weren't available.

I C&P some text from XP Help and Support, maybe it will help You.

I'm not running it, but was always under the impression you
couldn't use them, but ...
I"m running vanilla 6.22 here.
IF you're running from a command prompt they're available,
but not if you're running the batch under the gui is the way somebody else describes it to me.


Regards,
Richard
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: (1:116/901)

I'm not running it, but was always under the impression you RW>RW>couldn't use them, but ...
I'm running vanilla 6.22 here.
IF you're running from a command prompt they're available,
but not if you're running the batch under the gui is the way somebody els RW>RW>describes it to me.

Richard,

"I think", using XP from either a command/cmd prompt or the Run box RW>EV> in the GUI that Environmental Variables can be entered as long as a RW>EV> per cent sign is affixed to each end of the Environmental Variable.

SOmebody else will have to weigh in on this one, but was
always told they weren't available. I don't gui, I couldn't tell you. Fact RW>I've read that this echo, from other than me iirc.

Richard,

Yes, I know You are running DOS 6.22, but today I thought I'd try out
what I was suggesting in my first message to You.

While using XP GUI I looked in Help and Support and read the Command
Shell Overview.

I noticed some of the variables were labeled system, some were labeled
Local.

The variables %temp% and %tmp% was labeled both system and user.

By pressing the WinKey R to get the Run box to open in the GUI I tried
entering a few of the variable names using the per cent sign before and
after.

%path% and %date% just gave me a GUI error message.

I just typed the per cent sign alone and got a drop down box showing two entries, %temp% and %windir%\fonts .

I selected %temp% and the c:\docume~1\<Users Name>\locals~1\temp
directory opened up on the screen.

When I tried the same thing with %windir%\fonts , the c:\windows\fonts directory opened up.

I looked for another variable in the Command Shell Overview and
selected, %programfiles% and got the c:\program files directory.

Next, I started a cmd prompt by typing cmd in the GUI Run box.

When I tried %temp% I got an error message.

So I tried echo %temp% it showed the path c:\windows\temp , and after
that the next line showed a regular cmd prompt.

I reckon that from a XP cmd prompt or a DOS prompt, I or You could have
typed echo with another variable that I had tried in the GUI that opened
the variables directory on screen, like %windir%\fonts and
%programfiles% , and I would have saw their paths also.

Well Sir, I don't mean to keep draging this on and on, or confusing You further.

I just got curious about what I thought, when I wrote my first message
to You, and thought I'd share what I found out.

The per cent variables that I used in my experiment today, I saw in the
listing i got when I typed set from the cmd prompt.


* SLMR 2.1a #T348 * If you can't make it good, make it big. (Windows)
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5
* Origin: Doc's Place BBS Fido Since 1991 docsplace.tzo.com (1:123/140)

"I think", using XP from either a command/cmd prompt or the Run
box in the GUI that Environmental Variables can be entered as long EV>> as a per cent sign is affixed to each end of the Environmental
Variable.

Ed is talkng about a particularly sweet ability to access the
-contents- of envars at a command prompt since MS-DOS 7.xx came out RW>PQ> with Win95. E.g., at a command prompt it's possible to type:

(util) %this% %is% %a% %set% %of% %some% %envar% %names%[Enter]

GOod example.

SOmebody else will have to weigh in on this one, but was always told they weren't available.

This may have been in reference to -special- %voodoo% envars set by RW>PQ> Windows that cannot be changed[shrug]. Although, there was talk
some years back of 'global' envars not being able to be re-/set and RW>PQ> shared with other/later command prompt dos boxes, but Microsoft
fixed that with an add-on tool called WINSET that came on the Win95 RW>PQ> install CD.

Okay, clears that up. I know that both here, and in the
usenet newsgroup, alt.msdos.batch I"ve heard that you
couldn't utilize them in the way we're accustomed.

Hi again Richard,

I read Pauls message just after finishing the messages I wrote to You in
this packet.

I decided to leave my wandering message in the packet and express to You
and Paul, that I appreciate his clearer explanation. ;-)


* SLMR 2.1a #T348 * You have been selected for a secret mission.
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5
* Origin: Doc's Place BBS Fido Since 1991 docsplace.tzo.com (1:123/140)

Hi Paul,

Hey! That's really neat. (A whole lot better than my attempts using "COP CON" during some testing... feeble.)

I had to change the 'if' test after input to: "if not '%choice%'=='' set.. (note the pair of single quotes rather than the single double (what a mouthful!).

Glad it helped. I acually had to google it. I've used it before, but it had been so long I had to goole set choice to remember the exact commands.

Scott....

... Don't let school interfere with your education.

--- Renegade v1.18/Alpha
* Origin: The Realms of Blue BBS - blues.zapto.org (1:261/220)

DOes this work under xp though? I didn't think xp would
utilize environment variables. COuld be wrong on that one
though.

Hmmm, it seems to me that if various versions of MS-Windoze, when you have different DOS programs runnig in different Winddows DOS boxes, each keeps its own SET list, which is not available to the other DOS boxes. When a program can't read what you were sure you put there in the normal way, that could give somebody the idea that they don't any longer exist at all.

This is one of many sins that MS has foisted on us in later "OS" versions, along with not giving some DOS programs the full normal 1 meg that some of them
require to run correctly or at all.

--- BBBS/LiI v4.01 Flag
* Origin: Prism bbs (1:261/38)

HI Ed,

On Wed 2038-Jun-16 13:31, ED VANCE (1:123/140) wrote to RICHARD WEBB:

Yes, I know You are running DOS 6.22, but today I thought I'd try
out what I was suggesting in my first message to You.

While using XP GUI I looked in Help and Support and read the Command
Shell Overview.

I noticed some of the variables were labeled system, some were
labeled Local.

The variables %temp% and %tmp% was labeled both system and user.

YEp, reserved for system use iirc, set by the os.
YOu probably saw Paul Quinn's msg this thread as wlel, which clears up some of the misunderstanding I think. THis has
been an occasional discussion item on alt.msdos.batch as
well over the years. That newsgroup has some pretty sharp
batch folks, such as TImo from Finland who's written quite a bunch of batch enhancements and tools as well. DOn't think
he's been as prolific as HOrst was, but darned close. tHing is, TImo's still at it <g>.

There's the guy that could give you the real straight dope
on all this, and probably has some info on his web/ftp site.

Glad you noted Paul note, as he's much better at explaining
these things.

Regards,
Richard
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: (1:116/901)

if there's a shell/command prompt, there's environment variables available... it is the scripting that's different, though... all winwhatevers still do .BAT stuff but the real "scripting" on
winwhatevers is in their ""native"" script stuff which is very much
like b.a.s.i.c....

<hmm> I was in error then in my thinking. I always thought that
under a command prompt using win 9x one could utilize env vars but
under xp and later they weren't available.

yeah... no... ummm... even on *nix there's env vars and you use them in much the same way as ever ;)

now, i've not done much of their b.a.s.i.c. type scripting but i use them in .bat files, still... i don't know how one would access them in their script stuff... OS/2's REXX can also access and use them, too ;)

)\/(ark


* Origin: (1:3634/12)

YEp, reserved for system use iirc, set by the os.
YOu probably saw Paul Quinn's msg this thread as wlel, which clears up some RW>the misunderstanding I think. THis has
been an occasional discussion item on alt.msdos.batch as
well over the years. That newsgroup has some pretty sharp
batch folks, such as TImo from Finland who's written quite a bunch of batch RW>enhancements and tools as well. DOn't think
he's been as prolific as HOrst was, but darned close. tHing is, TImo's stil RW>at it <g>.

Richard,

Yes, I saw Paul Quinn's msg.

I haven't been on any newsgroup.

Doc (Ed Koon) I think, has some of the newsgroups listed on his BBS but
I haven't joined any of those echos.

I know there are plenty of spots on the internet where there is good
help for just about any subject I can think of, Technical or otherwise.

I have learned of several of them mentioned in FIDO echos and I go to
those sites to learn more, or even sign up for their newsletters.

Ever learning.


* SLMR 2.1a #T348 * When it comes to giving, some people stop at nothing.
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5
* Origin: Doc's Place BBS Fido Since 1991 docsplace.tzo.com (1:123/140)

HI Ed,

On Fri 2038-Jun-18 08:35, ED VANCE (1:123/140) wrote to RICHARD WEBB:

been an occasional discussion item on alt.msdos.batch as
well over the years. That newsgroup has some pretty sharp
batch folks, such as TImo from Finland who's written quite a bunch of batch RW>enhancements and tools as well. DOn't think
he's been as prolific as HOrst was, but darned close. tHing is, TImo's stil RW>at it <g>.

Yes, I saw Paul Quinn's msg.

I haven't been on any newsgroup.

Doc (Ed Koon) I think, has some of the newsgroups listed on his BBS
but I haven't joined any of those echos.

dOn't know if he carries that one, yah you can get to it via <gasp> google as well. I haven't looked in on it for awhile though, as I've got this echo back <grin>.

I know there are plenty of spots on the internet where there is good
help for just about any subject I can think of, Technical or
otherwise.

I have learned of several of them mentioned in FIDO echos and I go
to those sites to learn more, or even sign up for their newsletters.

Ever learning.

DItto here. Guess I'll quit learning when I quit breathing
<g>.




Regards,
Richard
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: (1:116/901)