sarah@laticorp.UUCP (Sarah Groves Hobart) (08/12/87)
Does anyone know the definitive way to get ECHO to echo a blank line? (That is, the way to get ECHO to echo a blank line under just about any version of DOS, rather than echoing "ECHO IS OFF" under some versions and echoing a blank line under others.) I have tried "ECHO " (ECHO, then one space), "ECHO " (ECHO, then two spaces), "ECHO ." (ECHO, space, period), and "ECHO" (ECHO, no arguments at all). All of these cause one version or another of DOS to echo something rather than a blank line. I am mainly concerned with 3.0 and above, but would like it to work with 2.1 and above. I've been working with Sperry DOS, PC-DOS, and MS-DOS. Thanks in advance! Sarah Groves Hobart
reeves@amd.AMD.COM (JR) (08/12/87)
In article <278@laticorp.UUCP> sarah@laticorp.UUCP (Sarah Groves Hobart) writes: > >Does anyone know the definitive way to get ECHO to echo a blank line? >(That is, the way to get ECHO to echo a blank line under just about >any version of DOS, rather than echoing "ECHO IS OFF" under some versions >and echoing a blank line under others.) > >I have tried "ECHO " (ECHO, then one space), "ECHO " (ECHO, then two spaces), >"ECHO ." (ECHO, space, period), and "ECHO" (ECHO, no arguments at all). All >of these cause one version or another of DOS to echo something rather than >a blank line. > >I am mainly concerned with 3.0 and above, but would like it to work with >2.1 and above. I've been working with Sperry DOS, PC-DOS, and MS-DOS. > >Thanks in advance! > >Sarah Groves Hobart To ECHO a blank line use the HEX code FF after the echo (You can enter a 255 by holding the ALT key and typing 2 5 5 This will only work with some editors) As a related note I have used this feature to create directories that seem to be inaccesible to the novice user. If you create a directory called for instance TEST<255> where <255> is the HEX FF it will look as if the directory is simply TEST. Actually to move to the dir you need the FF Might be handy for some people. J. Reeves
neuhaus@hplabsb.UUCP (Peter Neuhaus) (08/12/87)
Try "echo"<space><bs> where <space> is the space character and <BS> is the backspace character (decimal 8) which can be entered from the keyboard by holding the ALT key while typing 008 on the numeric pad. I used PC Write as an editor. Hopefully your editor allows the entry of special characters using this method. Peter
mdharding@watmath.waterloo.edu (Matt) (08/13/87)
In article <278@laticorp.UUCP> sarah@laticorp.UUCP (Sarah Groves Hobart) writes: > >I have tried "ECHO " (ECHO, then one space), "ECHO " (ECHO, then two spaces), >"ECHO ." (ECHO, space, period), and "ECHO" (ECHO, no arguments at all). All >of these cause one version or another of DOS to echo something rather than >a blank line. > >Sarah Groves Hobart I'm sure a million people will post this, but vat the hell: You tried every single combo except the right one: As was posted nine million times before on the net: Try echo. (echo NO SPACE period). Disclaimer: Yeah, like I belong to Microsoft?
rusty@nmsu-ee.UUCP (08/13/87)
In DOS 3.1 entering 'echo.' echos a blank line. (echo<period> with no
space in between)
Rusty Baldwin
nmsu-ee!rustyconnery@bnrmtv.UUCP (08/13/87)
In article <278@laticorp.UUCP>, sarah@laticorp.UUCP (Sarah Groves Hobart) writes: > Does anyone know the definitive way to get ECHO to echo a blank line? > I have tried "ECHO ", "ECHO ", ECHO ." and "ECHO". All of these cause > one version or another of DOS to echo something rather than a blank line. > > Sarah Groves Hobart The only way I know of that works in all cases is the form "ECHO x" where x is ascii character decimal 255. It can be generated by holding down the ALT and SHIFT keys and typing 2,5,5 on the numeric pad and then letting them both go. The cursor will advance one space to the right but the character you typed will not be distinguishable from a space. The problem with this method of course is that you can move the last character to a new line by mistake in an editor and not notice it. I believe "ECHO." (no spaces) works on a number of versions of DOS as well, it certainly works on my current DOS 3.30, but I am quite certain that it failed on previous versions. There are also patches to make "ECHO " work on all versions of DOS but these seem sort of questionable since the effect can be achieved in other ways which are standard. -- Glenn Connery, Bell Northern Research, Mountain View, CA {hplabs,amdahl,3comvax}!bnrmtv!connery
dick@plx.UUCP (Dick Flanagan) (08/13/87)
Summary: Expires: Sender: Followup-To: In article <278@laticorp.UUCP> sarah@laticorp.UUCP (Sarah Groves Hobart) writes: >Does anyone know the definitive way to get ECHO to echo a blank line? Try "ECHO." (ECHO, period, with no intervening space between them). . . Works every time! -- Dick Flanagan, W6OLD Long Live Zero Print Control UUCP: ...!ucbvax!sun!plx!dick GEnie: FLANAGAN
cy@ashtate (Cy Shuster) (08/13/87)
In article <278@laticorp.UUCP> sarah@laticorp.UUCP (Sarah Groves Hobart) writes: > >Does anyone know the definitive way to get ECHO to echo a blank line? You were very close: "ECHO. ", i.e. ECHO, period, space. --Cy--
dsnow@watarts.UUCP (08/14/87)
Would you believe that you missed the answer by one space! Echo. Will Echo a blank line. Also, I believe that ECHO<SPACE>F6 will do the same.
sarah@laticorp.UUCP (08/18/87)
> In article <278@laticorp.UUCP> sarah@laticorp.UUCP (Sarah Groves Hobart) writes: > >Does anyone know the definitive way to get ECHO to echo a blank line? [Sarah Groves Hobart's mailbox is then inundated with replies.] Really, the avalanche of responses I've gotten to my question has been heartwarming . . . PLEASE don't send any more! I've long since given up trying to reply to each and every one. And, finally, ECHO. echos "ECHO is on" (or off) on Sperry DOS 3.1. (Yes, that's ECHO, no space, period--anyone with access to Sperry DOS out there knows that I speak truth.) Sperry DOS 3.1 is one of the DOS's I have to work with. ECHO'ing a delete character, however, will echo a blank line on all my DOS's. For this reason I've gone with that option. Again, many, many thanks for the overwhelming number of responses. Sarah Groves Hobart {ihnp4,amdahl,sun}!ptsfa!laticorp!sarah
steve@micomvax.UUCP (Steve Grice) (08/19/87)
In article <58200013@hplabsb.UUCP> neuhaus@hplabsb.UUCP (Peter Neuhaus) writes: >Try "echo"<space><bs> where <space> is the space character and <BS> >is the backspace character (decimal 8) which can be entered from the >keyboard by holding the ALT key while typing 008 on the numeric pad. > >I used PC Write as an editor. Hopefully your editor allows the entry >of special characters using this method. > >Peter > It's a lot easier to type ECHO: -- Steve Grice "For all you do ...philabs!micomvax!steve disk bugs for you"
brianc@cognos.uucp (Brian Campbell) (08/19/87)
In article <278@laticorp.UUCP> sarah@laticorp.UUCP (Sarah Groves Hobart) writes: > Does anyone know the definitive way to get ECHO to echo a blank line? I don't know if its the definitive way or not, but "echo." (no space between echo and the dot) will do the trick. This works in DOS 3.1 'fer sure. -- Brian Campbell uucp: decvax!utzoo!dciem!nrcaer!cognos!brianc Cognos Incorporated mail: 3755 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 3N3 (613) 738-1440 fido: sysop@163/8
ado@elsie.UUCP (Arthur David Olson) (08/23/87)
> > Does anyone know the definitive way to get ECHO to echo a blank line? > > I don't know if its the definitive way or not, but "echo." (no space > between echo and the dot) will do the trick. This works in DOS 3.1 'fer > sure. Good enough. Now--how about echoing an *empty* line? Use the command echo. > result then examine the result file and note the space character at the beginning of the file. Is that space character important? You bet. Try echo. | date (which ought to allow you to display the date without getting prompted for a new date) to see why. -- UUCP: elsie!ado Elsie and Ado are trademarks of Borden, Inc. and Ampex.
agnew@trwrc.UUCP (R.A. Agnew) (08/26/87)
In article <14286@watmath.waterloo.edu> mdharding@watmath.waterloo.edu (Matt) writes: >In article <278@laticorp.UUCP> sarah@laticorp.UUCP (Sarah Groves Hobart) writes: >> >You tried every single combo except the right one: As was posted nine million >times before on the net: > >Try echo. (echo NO SPACE period). > Sorry, but like the man said this either prints "ECHO is on" or "ECHO is off" on MS DOS V3.10 and most others. There are patches to DOS (version dependant) to fix this.