Xref: utzoo comp.sys.ibm.pc:29659 comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d:3283
Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!hplabs!hp-sdd!megatek!eta!hollen
From: hollen@eta.megatek.uucp (Dion Hollenbeck)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Subject: Re: How to hide 'echo off' in batch files?
Message-ID: <562@megatek.UUCP>
Date: 2 Jun 89 14:14:33 GMT
References: <3249@cps3xx.UUCP>
Sender: news@megatek.UUCP
Lines: 36

From article <3249@cps3xx.UUCP>, by usenet@cps3xx.UUCP (Usenet file owner):
> in article <9139@boulder.Colorado.EDU>, haverlan@tramp.Colorado.EDU (HAVERLAND MARC BRADLEY) says:
>> Xref: cps3xx comp.sys.ibm.pc:31073 comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d:3710
>> 
>> I put the command 'echo off' at the top of most of my batch files to
>> hide the following commands.  However, 'echo off' is still displayed.
>> Does anyone know how to turn off echoing in a batch file without
>> showing the 'echo off?'
> 
> ---->   If you are using DOS 3.x, use @echo off. The @ sign will supress
> the "echo off" message....
> 
Almost correct.  This will not work until DOS 3.3 or higher, not present
in DOS 3.2.  There are however some patches which have gone around the
net which allow command.com to be patched to make echo off the default.
Unfortunately, I did not save the patches since I did not need them.

There is a replacement for command.com called 4DOS which implements the
@ECHO OFF correctly.  Not only this, but it can swap itself onto disk, or
expanded memory, is smaller and faster than command.com and has much
better batch file processing and aliasing and environment variables
which are useable, as opposed to those in command.com which are
difficult to use at best.  This package is put out by J.P. Software
and they provide a 21day free trial version which is on a lot of
BBS.  I tried it and after 2 days, sent in my $50 (shareware) to
register.  This fee includes registration, next version free and
printed manual.  This is a really well done package and is worth every
bit of the price.  I don't have the address here at work now, but if
anyone is interested, please E-mail me and I will look it up at
home and get it out to you so you can order a free trial disk.

	Dion Hollenbeck             (619) 455-5590 x2814
	Megatek Corporation, 9645 Scranton Road, San Diego, CA  92121

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