In computing, CHOICE is a command that allows for batch files to prompt the user to select one item from a set of single-character choices. It was introduced as an external command (with filenames CHOICE.COM or CHOICE.EXE) with MS-DOS 6.0, Novell DOS 7 and 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 has been reintroduced in Windows Vista and is present in later versions.
Contents
Starting with Windows 2000, the SET command has similar functionality using the /P command-line argument. However this command requires an additional key stroke (hitting ENTER key), which is not required by CHOICE.
Usage
The command returns the selected choice as 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 CTRL+BREAK or CTRL+C. Choice displays the default choices Y and N if used without parameters.
DOS
CHOICE [/C[:]choices] [/N] [/S] [/T[:]c,nn] [/M text]
Arguments:
/C[:]choices Specifies allowable keys. The default is "YN"./T[:]c,nn This defaults choice to "c" after "nn" seconds./M text Specifies the prompt string to display.Flags:
/N Specifies not to display the choices and "?" at end of prompt string./CS Specifies that choice keys should be treated as case sensitive.Windows
CHOICE [/C [<Choice1><Choice2><…>]] [/N] [/CS] [/T <Timeout> /D <Choice>] [/M <"Text">]
Arguments:
/C[:]choices Specifies allowable keys. The default is "YN"./T[:]nn This defaults choice to /D after "nn" seconds. Must be specified with default /D./D[:]c This defaults choice to 'c'./M text Specifies the prompt string to display.Flags:
/N Specifies not to display the choices and "?" at end of prompt string./CS Specifies that choice keys should be treated as case sensitive.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 IF ERRORLEVEL command (which tests on "greater or equal"). The selected choice is then printed to the screen using the ECHO command.
CHOICE command.
Note that the IF command, when checking the ERRORLEVEL, compares the number and matches if ERRORLEVEL is equal to or higher than that number. Because of this IF ERRORLEVEL comparisons should be done in decrementing order.