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From: stevenj@umbc3.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: DOS command in batch file does not work when "echo off"
Message-ID: <304@umbc3.UMD.EDU>
Date: Fri, 13-Mar-87 22:14:19 EST
Article-I.D.: umbc3.304
Posted: Fri Mar 13 22:14:19 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 14-Mar-87 15:19:42 EST
References: <5792@mimsy.UUCP>
Reply-To: stevenj@umbc3 (Steven Vore (PC))
Organization: University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Lines: 35

In article <5792@mimsy.UUCP> deba@mimsy.UUCP (Deba Patnaik) writes:
>PROMPT command does not work when "ECHO OFF'" but works when
>"ECHO ON". These are the lines in the batch file.
>
>ECHO OFF
>IF %1 == RED PROMPT $e[41m
>IF %1 == GREEN PROMPT $e[42m
>
>If you have a CGA card try it with echo on and off. If you know
>the reason why it does not work please let me know. Hope it is
>not a bug in 3.1 DOS.

No, not a bug in DOS at all.  The above commands will utilize ANSI.SYS 
to change screen colors.  ANSI.SYS, being a video driver (correct term?)
can only get it's commands from things being displayed to the screen, 
in your case, an <ESC>, a right bracket, etc.  (DOS translates the $e to
an <ESC> character).  When you turn ECHO OFF, the command is not displayed to 
the screen, hence ANSI.SYS never sees it, causing the seeming bug.

a workaround:  put the commands in a file and then TYPE the file.  by 
commands, I mean an <ESC>, right bracket etc.  (you'll have to find a
text editor that'll let you put the <ESC> character in the file - SideKick
will for example, I think it's ^P then <ESC>, but check the manual to be
sure).  If you do it right, you'll never see anything but the screen color 
change.  your .BAT file would then look like..

if %1 == RED type REDFILE
if %1 == GREEN type GREENFILE
...

hope this helps.

Steven J Vore
stevenj@umbc3.umd.edu
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