Stupid batch file question

[Un4given]

I know this sounds stupid, but here it goes. I've written a batch file that copies my working Outlook and archive PST files to a location on another hard drive for redundancy purposes. The batch file works fine, but there is something odd about the text during execution. I have a REM command with a brief description of what the batch file does, and a pause command that makes the batch file wait for a key to be pressed for execution. Now here is where it gets odd. The REM and pause command are showing up in the command window as text.

I wrote it in Notepad. It's not rich text, just a plain old text file. Any idea why these are showing up as text when the batch file is executed? I'm guess it's do to the way the command prompt is handled in Windows 7, but thought I'd ask.

OS: Windows 7 64-bit

[Steve R Jones]

Sounds normal to me.

Create a line after the REM command-> CLS (clear screen)

[Wurm]

I agree that it sounds normal

I wouldn't even bother with the CLS command if the *.bat is working correctly.

Unless the text is really really bothering you

[SpywareDr]

Insert an:

@echo off

as the very first line in your batch file.

[James]

Insert an:

@echo off

as the very first line in your batch file.

What he said.

@echo off is what keeps the rem lines from showing up.

[SpywareDr]

When you run a batch program, each of the batch program's commands are typically displayed (echoed) on the screen. You can toggle this feature on or off by using the ECHO command. (ECHO [ON|OFF])

Inserting an at sign (@) in front of a command in a batch program prevents that one line from being echoed to the screen.

The command "echo off" would turn off echoing any further commands to the screen but, you would still see those two words, "echo off", on the screen.

So to get around that, simply add an "@" prefix . . . "@echo off".

[Un4given]

OK, thanks guys. I'll give that try.

[SpywareDr]

You're welcome.