rem This batch file gets a character or word of user input and rem returns it in the environment variable VALUE. Two tricks are rem used to accomplish this: rem rem (1) The FC (File Compare) command is used to compare two standard rem devices -- NUL (nothing) and CON (the console). The /LB1 option rem is used to insure only one line is compared, and the /N numbers rem that output line with a "1:", making it easier for us to find. rem FC will output immediately after the user hits "Enter" (because rem of the /LB1), and will give us a total of 7 lines of output. rem Of these 7 lines, the one starting with "1:" is the one we want. rem rem (2) The DATE command is used only because it always returns the rem phrase "Enter new date (mm-dd-yy): " followed by whatever was rem piped into it. Why is this format important? Obviously, it rem has nothing to do with setting the date! Well, we will be rem piping it into a batch file and running it. When that batch rem file runs, it will try to execute the first word (Enter) as if rem it were a valid command, and pass everything else as arguments. rem Since we have created a valid (batch file) command called ENTER, rem this will actually work! We just have to make sure that ENTER.BAT rem is set up to handle the arguments that will be passed to it! echo This is a test. Please enter "y" or "n" fc con nul /lb1 /n | date | find "1:" > en#er.bat echo set value=%%5> enter.bat call en#er.bat del en?er.bat > nul if "%value%"=="n" echo You entered "n" if "%value%"=="y" echo You entered "y" set value= rem See PC Magazine V14N12 June 27, 1995 page 248 for further rem information. The PC Magazine article suggests using a rem permanent ENTER.BAT which can accept a line rem of user input (complete with spaces between words!). rem My version is meant to be inserted into any batch file rem and will create a simple one-line temporary ENTER.BAT in rem the default directory and on the fly as needed. rem http://www.ericphelps.com