Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!rutgers!bellcore!tness7!ninja!merch!cpe!hal6000!trsvax!craig
From: craig@trsvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Interactive BAT files: here's how
Message-ID: <216100057@trsvax>
Date: 14 Oct 88 23:06:00 GMT
References: <21729@decwrl.dec.com>
Lines: 63
Nf-ID: #R:decwrl.dec.com:21729:trsvax:216100057:000:2283
Nf-From: trsvax.UUCP!craig    Oct 14 18:06:00 1988


->/*Written7:15 pm Oct 3,1988 by manana.dec.com!birdsall in comp.sys.ibm.pc */
->/* ---------- "Interactive BAT files: here's how" ---------- */
->> Subject: Interactive BAT files: HOW?
->> Posted: 29 Sep 88 00:19:14 GMT
->> Organization: Evans & Sutherland, Salt Lake City, Utah
-> 
->> I would like to alter my AUTOEXEC.BAT file (or another BAT file)
->> to accept interactive input.  I want it to ask me a question
->> (such as who I am), and based on the answer, perform a system setup.
->> Alas, I cannot find anything in my eMeSS-DOS (3.3) manual or elsewhere
->> that tells me how to do this.  Is it possible?  If so, how, and which
->> book(s) describe it?
-> 
->Is it "possible"? Why of course! All things are possible under MS-DOS ... 
->but it can be painful ...
->
->Try this:
->
->First write a C program that asks you questions and returns some value based on 
->your answer.
->
	[Other good stuff deleted]
->
->====================================================
->
->Have fun!
->
->walt
->/* End of text from comp.sys.ibm.pc */

You're posting has some good information for a novice user, but you're
making this process too difficult.  It can all be done with batch files and
subdirectories.  Try this:
	Create a subdirectory called `\STARTUP'
	Put the following lines in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file:
		ECHO OFF
		CLS
		CD \STARTUP
		PROMPT=     Enter Choice (1 or 2):
		ECHO.
		ECHO.
		ECHO	1)  TOM
		ECHO	2)  FRED
		ECHO.
	In the '\STARTUP' subdirectory, create a 1.BAT and a 2.BAT file
	   with the appropriate commands depending on the user's choice.
	   The first few lines in both files should be something like:
		ECHO OFF
		CLS
		PROMPT=$P$G
		CD \

Advantages: doesn't require purchasing a programming language;  easier to
	    implement and understand
Disadvantages: leaves extra files laying around on your disk; not as pretty
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
If you don't care where you are         |	Craig Fleece
then you aren't lost.			|	craig@trsvax
                                        |	ninja!sys1!trsvax!craig
<This information is provided by an individual and is not nor should be
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