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Interface

Posted: 24 Jul 2018 00:30
by Sandritto
Hi there!

I was wondering if there is anyway to make the data input interface a bit more "attractive" with batch.

Kind of a Windows box or something so that a normal user doesn't have to see the Command prompt.

Thanks!

Re: Interface

Posted: 24 Jul 2018 00:52
by aGerman
Windows has scripting languages like VBScript or JScript on board that can be run without a window and where you would use default dialog boxes instead. The fact that those are really only default dialogs makes it actually less flexible. However, cmd.exe (which is the interpreter for Batch scripts) is a console program and thus, runs in a text-based console window which is the user interface in that case. If you're not happy whith that console window I'd really recomment you to use another language. Sure, you could use hybrid scripts to display dialogs but that looks rather weird to users that expect to work with the console window in Batch.

Steffen

Re: Interface

Posted: 24 Jul 2018 01:13
by Sandritto
It's just one dialog box I'd like to use. I've been looking for examples but couldn't find any...

Thanks for the answer!

Re: Interface

Posted: 24 Jul 2018 01:58
by ShadowThief
aGerman wrote:
24 Jul 2018 00:52
Windows has scripting languages like VBScript or JScript on board that can be run without a window and where you would use default dialog boxes instead. The fact that those are really only default dialogs makes it actually less flexible. However, cmd.exe (which is the interpreter for Batch scripts) is a console program and thus, runs in a text-based console window which is the user interface in that case. If you're not happy whith that console window I'd really recomment you to use another language. Sure, you could use hybrid scripts to display dialogs but that looks rather weird to users that expect to work with the console window in Batch.

Steffen
There's always HTA as well.

Re: Interface

Posted: 24 Jul 2018 04:26
by aGerman
Sandritto wrote:
24 Jul 2018 01:13
It's just one dialog box I'd like to use. I've been looking for examples but couldn't find any...
Can you give some more information?
There is a Messagebox dialog that just displays a message or a question and you have buttons lik Yes, No or Yes,No, Cancel. There is also an Inputbox where you can fill in freetext. Another possibility is a BrowseForFolder dialog where you can pick up a folder out of an Explorer-like window.
ShadowThief wrote:
24 Jul 2018 01:58
There's always HTA as well.
Of course. But in that case you may need an additional text file as interface between the two processes.

Steffen

Re: Interface

Posted: 24 Jul 2018 07:50
by Squashman
Frank Westlake made a bunch of utilities that had that functionality. Don't believe his website is up anymore but they are all hosted on SS64.
http://ss64.net/westlake/nt/

Re: Interface

Posted: 24 Jul 2018 08:21
by Aacini
Perhaps the technique described at this thread may help you...

Antonio

Re: Interface

Posted: 24 Jul 2018 10:18
by aGerman
I completely forgot about that you could write to stdout from within a HTA script :roll:

Re: Interface

Posted: 26 Jul 2018 01:21
by Sandritto
Many thanks for the answers!

Sandritto