I wrote a batch file with the CHOICE command in it but whenever the program gets to that command I get an error saying "the specified name is not recognised as an internal or external command." the same batch runs ok on a win95 machine.Can you help me please

CHOICE.COM is an external command, included by default on Windows 9x installation. However it does also work on NT systems, it's not present by default (you need the file CHOICE.COM). You can get the file and put on the directory from where the batch is been run or in a directory path, but that's not necessary. The NT batch scripting provides you tools so you don't need CHOICE.COM: echo Choose [Y/N] ? :choice set /P CH= if /I "%CH%"=="Y" goto yes if /I "%CH%"=="N" goto nop goto choice -- Leonardo Pignataro - Secret_Doom -- secret_doom@hotmail.com www.batch.hpg.com.br

Thank you very much for your reply but I am very new to batch files (2 weeks actually). I am learning to write them via a book so I don't understand or don't know where to put your reply in my batch file, here is a copy of my file cls @echo off @echo Please choose a number @echo. @echo T. Trunk info @echo S. Switchboard info @echo V. Voicemail info @echo E. Telstra 1810 info @echo M. Mobile phones info @echo P. TV Patching info @echo OR 'X' to abort @echo. choice /c:TSVEMPX/T:X,20 if errorlevel==7 goto end if errorlevel==6 goto tv if errorlevel==5 goto mobile if errorlevel==4 goto telstra if errorlevel==3 goto voice if errorlevel==2 goto switch if errorlevel==1 goto trunk :trunk u: cd pabxda~1 cd trunki~1 dir :switch u: cd pabxda~1 cd switch~1 dir :voice u: cd vmxinf~1 dir :telstra u: cd pabxda~1 cd trunki~1 telstr~1.txt :mobile u: cd pabxda~1 cd mobiles mobile~1.xls :tv u: cd pabxda~1 tvpatc~1.xls :end end Also Where can I get a Choice.com from. Thanks,Len

1. All those @'s aren't necessary. Just give an initial "@echo off" (I recommend putting it on the first line) and all other commands will be hidden. 2. If each label should be executed upon a certain code, but only that label, not the ones below it, you should include a "goto end" on the end of each label. Appart from that, the batch seems good to be run on Win9x/DOS. However, not on NT systems, since they don't have CHOICE.COM by default, as I've said. You can get CHOICE.COM here: http://www.geko.ch/batch/CHOICE.COM If you choose to don't use CHOICE.COM, use that method I posted, this would be how to use it: ===== BATCH SCRIPT BEGIN ===== @echo off cls echo Please choose a number echo. echo T. Trunk info echo S. Switchboard info echo V. Voicemail info echo E. Telstra 1810 info echo M. Mobile phones info echo P. TV Patching info echo OR 'X' to abort echo. :choice set /P CH=[T,S,V,E,M,P,X]? if /I "%CH%"=="X" goto enf if /I "%CH%"=="P" goto tv if /I "%CH%"=="M" goto mobile if /I "%CH%"=="E" goto telstra if /I "%CH%"=="V" goto voice if /I "%CH%"=="S" goto switch if /I "%CH%"=="T" goto trunk goto choice :: Here goes the rest of the batch, :: beggining from the :trunk label ===== BATCH SCRIPT END ===== You're probably using a DOS batch programming book, but you're on a NT system (which is NOT DOS). There are several differences between DOS batch and NT batch, I recommend you getting a more proper book. -- Leonardo Pignataro - Secret_Doom -- secret_doom@hotmail.com www.batch.hpg.com.br

By the way, you don't need to buy a book. There are several tutotials and forums on the internet which you can use. Also, the info screens from the commands on CMD.exe (NT's command interpreter) are great. For help on a certain command, type "cmd/?". Example: SET /? To view a list of cmds, type "HELP" -- Leonardo Pignataro - Secret_Doom -- secret_doom@hotmail.com www.batch.hpg.com.br

Leonardo, thanks, I used your method which worked and someone (Keith) sent me some programs from the NT4 resource kit which included the choice.exe which made my batch file worked in it's original form. So thanks all for your time and efforts. Regards,Len