I have been programming for 10 years in all sorts of languages including assembly. Have not programmed much with batch files. Now I need to make a very extensive batch file that, when loaded onto a thumbdrive, inserted in a computer, and run from the thumbdrive, will gather all sorts of info about the computer, put it in a folder with the extracted computer name as the folder name. Info being pulled in configuration information such as IP address, port status, windows services list, programs installed, mac adress, etc etc etc. Since this is so indepth, a batch file IDE would be useful. Anyone know where I can find one? Alternatively, let me know of any technics or tools that can be used in place of an IDE. I'd like something that can check syntax, walk through code, etc.

I am unaware of any such IDE that is free, if you end up using a text editor I would recommend metapad. There are a couple of reasons to use it over something like notepad; 1 - The shortcut <ctrl>+<d> opens the default viewer - for .bat and .cmd files this is cmd.exe. The shortcut acts just as if the batch was double clicked on which can be good for quick testing. 2 - Auto text; 10 slots for those annoying repetitive commands - <alt>+<0-9>(does not work on the numeric keypad) 3 - custom colo(u)rs for text and background. There is a pay-for program that has a text editor with highlighting and such an works in a "crippled mode" called quick batch file compiler. I can't vouch for it because I only tried it a couple once a while ago. Just be aware the "compiled" batch files are just compressed text that is extracted to a temp directory and run from there.

Thanks, I downloaded and will evaluate this editor. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

I don't know of an ide either but I use LIST by Vern Buerg and integrate into it VDE by Eric Meyer. Both are highly configurable. And both free. note: VDE is a COM file and so is limited to 64KB, but is very quick. ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2