
Choice (command)

In computing, codice_1 is a command that allows for batch files to prompt the user to select one item from a set of single-character choices. It is available in a number of operating system command-line shells.
History.
The command was first introduced as an external command (with filenames CHOICE.COM or CHOICE.EXE) with MS-DOS 6.0. It is included in Novell DOS 7 and IBM PC DOS 7.0, and is also available from the command-line shell of some versions of Microsoft Windows, but not under Windows 2000 and Windows XP. It was first made available for Windows in the Windows XP Resource Kit.
It has been reintroduced in Windows Server 2003 and is present in later versions.
Starting with Windows 2000, the codice_2 command has similar functionality using the codice_3 command-line argument. However this command requires an additional key stroke (hitting ENTER key), which is not required by codice_1.
The codice_1 command has been ported to OS/2, Rexx and Perl. It is also available in Datalight ROM-DOS, FreeDOS, PTS-DOS, and ReactOS. The FreeDOS version was developed by Jim Hall and is licensed under the GPL v2.
Usage.
The command returns the selected choice as an exit code which is set to the index of the key that the user selects from the list of choices. The first choice in the list returns a value of 1, the second a value of 2, and so forth.
If a key is pressed that is not a valid choice, the command will sound a warning beep. If an error condition is detected, an exit code value of 255 will be returned. An exit code value of 0 will be returned if the user presses + or +.
Choice displays the default choices Y and N if used without parameters.
Syntax.
DOS.
codice_6
Arguments:
Flags:
Microsoft Windows, ReactOS.
codice_12
Arguments:
Flags:
Example.
The batch file below gives the user three choices.
The user is directed depending upon his input by evaluating the exit code using the codice_19 command (which tests on "greater or equal"). The selected choice is then printed to the screen using the codice_20 command.
@ECHO off
@CHOICE /C:123
IF ERRORLEVEL 3 GOTO three
IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO two
IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO one
GOTO end
ECHO You have pressed "1"!
GOTO end
ECHO You have pressed "2"!
GOTO end
ECHO You have pressed "3"!
@PAUSE