simcha@kurz-ai.UUCP (Simcha Lerner) (06/05/89)
While many have pointed out that DOS 3.3 supports the "@" prefix
(which will suppress the echoing of any line in a batch file, not
just an echo command), no one has given a good answer of pre 3.3.
A common solution that used to be used was to patch command.com so that
the default that was to have echo set to off. This way you have to
explicitly do an echo on if you want echoing.
Alas, I don't have my notes, and the patch location varies by both
DOS version and manufacturer, but I believe there are three flags
in command.com: one is used for running the autoexec.bat, the
other is used for running other batch files, and the third is for
interactive execution prompting. (Just try typing echo off at the
command prompt, and you will loose your prompt until you do an echo on.
However, an echo off in a batch file disappears when the batch file
is finished.)
If there is a demand, I can dig out the offsets of these flags for
the IBM (and maybe Compaq) versions for 3.0-3.2.
Simcha Lerner
NOTE ADDRESS - no mail via bbn:
talcott!kurz-ai!simcha
Disclaimer: If my boss found me advocating people patch the O/S, he'd
have me shot...