hi all, i am need of some help for using the set command, in place of the choice command in XP. Here is my task:
I need to create a menu in a box centered on the SCREEN from which users can choose from any of the following commands: net user, ipconfig, echo, findstr, XCOPY, set, and a way to exit. After making their selection, my batch file must display help for that command on a freshly blanked screen, stay there for the user to read, then redisplay the menu on a freshly blanked screen for the user to continue.
Please help!!!! Your help would be greatly appreciated.

set /p a=- , /p is the option in set that allows it to be similar to choice.

@echo off
cls & echo. & echo Choice
echo A-Ipconfig & echo B-E^cho & echo C-Findstr & echo D-Xcopy & echo E-Set
echo. & set /p chs=- & if "%chs%"=="a" set chsa=ipconfig
if "%chs%"=="b" set chsa=echo & if "%chs%"=="c" set chsa=findstr
if "%chs%"=="d" set chsa=xcopy & if "%chs%"=="e" set chsa=set
cls & %chsa% /?Looks like diablo is very close, but forgot to test it.
It needs a pause at the end. And even then only choices b & d work.(in XP anyway)
Apparently the "if set ..." commands do not like to follow the & sign.

Try this:
Code: [Select]@echo off
cls & echo. & echo Choice
echo A-Ipconfig & echo B-Echo & echo C-Findstr & echo D-Xcopy & echo E-Set
echo. & set /p chs=-
if "%chs%"=="a" set chsa=ipconfig
if "%chs%"=="b" set chsa=echo
if "%chs%"=="c" set chsa=findstr
if "%chs%"=="d" set chsa=xcopy
if "%chs%"=="e" set chsa=set
cls & %chsa% /?
pause>nul

For more information read this:
MS-DOS set command help
How to use the set command as a substitute for the choice command in Windows 2000 and Windows ...
Quote from: rhoads on April 20, 2008, 08:32:15 PM

hi all, i am need of some help for using the set command, in place of the choice command in XP. Here is my task:
I need to create a menu in a box centered on the screen from which users can choose from any of the following commands: net user, ipconfig, echo, findstr, xcopy, set, and a way to exit. After making their selection, my batch file must display help for that command on a freshly blanked screen, stay there for the user to read, then redisplay the menu on a freshly blanked screen for the user to continue.
Please help!!!! Your help would be greatly appreciated.