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Q71558: ECHO OFF Prevents ANSI Escape Sequences Using PROMPT

Article: Q71558
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:3.x,4.x,5.x,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 17-DEC-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 3.1, 3.2, 3.21, 3.3, 3.3a, 4.0, 4.01, 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22 
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SUMMARY
=======

If ECHO is currently OFF in a batch file, ANSI escape sequences cannot be issued
using the PROMPT $E[... statement. ECHO must be temporarily turned ON, or the
escape sequences must be issued using ECHO <esc>[..., where <esc> is
whatever sequence of characters is used by a particular text editor to specify
an escape character (for example, ^V[ in Edlin).

MORE INFORMATION
================

When ECHO is OFF in a batch file, command lines in the batch file (including the
command prompt) are not echoed to the screen. Thus, the command prompt
containing the desired escape sequence is not echoed to the console, and the
escape sequence is not issued. If the prompt contains an escape sequence when
the batch file ends execution, this escape sequence is issued.

If the DOSSHELL command is executed from a batch file with the echo off and
MS-DOS Shell is then used to execute a batch file that uses PROMPT $E[..., the
escape sequence is not issued. Shell must first be terminated, either by using
F3 or by explicitly setting ECHO ON, before the batch file can be used to issue
escape sequences.

Additional query words: 3.20 3.21 3.30 4.00 4.01a 5.00 5.00a 6.00 6.20 \* testwin4

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS321 kbMSDOS400 kbMSDOS320 kbMSDOS330a kbMSDOS621 kbMSDOS622 kbMSDOS620 kbMSDOS600 kbMSDOS310 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS330 kbMSDOS401 kbMSDOS500a
Version           : MS-DOS:3.x,4.x,5.x,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22

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