I've been working on a batch file that among other things prompts the user to make a menu selection. I've been using the standard "set /p " command since I'm on XP and choice doesn't exist. Unfortunately, I'm finding that many of the options that I liked about choice don't seem possible with the 'set' command. Is there any way to give the user say 5 seconds to respond and if they don't, then choose a default item from the menu? Thanks in advance. Smokey. P.S. M2, I've used a ton of your examples so far to make the overall batch file. Thanks a million for all the help you've given others on this site. Much appreciated.

"Is there any way to give the user say 5 seconds to respond and if they don't, then choose a default item from the menu?" Not that I know of. I thought CHOICE was included in XP. Thanks for the encouragement. ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

Can get choice.com from here http://www.daniel-hertrich.de/wwwlx... I'll encourage you as well M2.

If you prefer English: http://golden-triangle.com/CHOICE.COM ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

http://www.ss64.com/nt/timeout.html Think out of the box. Use the command and a goto label __________________________________ Below is just a snipit cls @echo off echo. echo To Start XP Application Loader press A echo. echo To Start 2k Application Loader press B echo. echo To run but not install tools press C echo. echo To just exit this program press X echo. echo. SET Choice= SET /P Choice= TYPE THE LETTER AND PRESS ENTER: -^> IF NOT '%Choice%'=='' SET Choice=%Choice% :: /I makes the IF comparison case-insensitive IF /I '%Choice%'=='a' GOTO :go2 IF /I '%Choice%'=='b' GOTO :go IF /I '%Choice%'=='c' GOTO :tools IF /I '%Choice%'=='x' GOTO :exit echo "%Choice%" IS NOT VALID. PLEASE TRY AGAIN echo. :tools cls color 2f echo TOOLS echo *************************************************************************** echo. echo Start Everest press A. echo. echo Start SIW press B. echo. echo Start winfile press C. echo. echo Go back to main menu D. echo. echo To test sound card E. echo. echo Go to Driveragent F. echo. echo Majic Jelly Bean G. echo. echo Jelly Bean Change key H. echo. echo Install sp3 I. echo. echo MS Key changer J. echo. echo To exit program X. SET Choice= SET /P Choice= TYPE THE LETTER AND PRESS ENTER: -^> IF NOT '%Choice%'=='' SET Choice=%Choice% :: /I makes the IF comparison case-insensitive IF /I '%Choice%'=='a' GOTO :everest IF /I '%Choice%'=='b' GOTO :siw IF /I '%Choice%'=='c' GOTO :manage IF /I '%Choice%'=='d' GOTO :menu IF /I '%Choice%'=='e' GOTO :sound IF /I '%Choice%'=='f' GOTO :agent IF /I '%Choice%'=='g' GOTO :bean IF /I '%Choice%'=='h' GOTO :key IF /I '%Choice%'=='i' GOTO :sp3 IF /I '%Choice%'=='j' GOTO :mskeys IF /I '%Choice%'=='x' GOTO :exit :everest everest.exe cls goto :tools :siw siw.exe cls goto :tools :manage winfile.exe cls goto :tools :menu cls goto :menue :sound

[1] no point in clearing a var then setting it on the next line [2] you can save some clutter by losing the IF /I '%Choice%'=='a' GOTO :go2 and just goto :!choice! ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2