Batch files - Ask For User Input

Sometimes we need some user interaction in our batch files.
We may need to know to which directory a file is to be copied, for example.
Or which drive needs to be formatted.

The most basic form of user interaction, of course, is the PAUSE command, which halts the batch file until the user presses "any key" (apart from Ctrl, Alt, Shift, CapsLock, NumLock or ScrollLock).
Maybe not really sophisticated, but it works and is always available, in all DOS, Windows and OS/2 versions.

How you can manage to retrieve user input depends on the OS version used, and whether you want to allow "third party" tools or use "native code" only.

Windows 2000 and later versions

This command will display an optional promptString where the user can type in a string and press Enter. The typed string will then be stored in the specified environment variable variable.

Windows NT 4 and later versions

In NT we don't need temporary files and we can skip a few lines by using TYPE CON and FOR /F:

One solution uses the FORMAT command, which will fail since it tries to format a diskette in drive A: at 160KB.
If you have a 5¼" drive as your A: drive don't use this one.

The second solution uses the LABEL command.
It will actually change drive C:'s volume label and then restore it again to its old value.
The volume label in NT is restricted to 32 characters, and so is the input string when using this LABEL trick for user input.
Besides that the batch file limits the string to 2 words (1 space) only.

I adapted the original postings so that the batch files no longer need to use temporary files. You can view the original postings at my Solutions found at alt.msdos.batch page.

MS-DOS

In the MS-DOS 3 days, a simple Yes/No question could be answered by changing to a temporary directory where two temporary batch files were located, Y.BAT and N.BAT.
Guess what happened if a user typed a completely different answer . . .

Since MS-DOS 6 we have CHOICE.COM (CHOICE.EXE in later versions), a much more versatile and reliable way to solve one character answers like Yes/No.

The CHOICE command was discontinued in Windows NT 4, only to be reintroduced again in Windows 7 (and maybe Vista?).
If you work with one of these "challenged" Windows versions, you may want to try my Poor Man's Choice instead, or use DEBUG to create REPLY.COM (16-bit, won't work in a 64-bit OS), as published in Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q77457: Accepting Keyboard Input in Batch Files.

copies the user input on the command line to the file filename.
To stop entering user input, the user has to type Ctrl+Z (or F6), followed by the Enter key.

Many PC users and batch file authors (including myself), find this approach "less intuitive", to say the least. One would expect that pressing the enter key is enough, and once you find out it isn't, the previous line of input cannot be removed anymore.

The following trick uses ANSI to perform some key translation: the Enter key is translated to the F6 key followed by the Enter key. Thus only one line of input can be entered, and pressing the Enter key sends the input to the temporary file USERINP.TMP.

The previous example is only a bare minimum. The following example not only asks for user input, but stores it in an environment variable USRINPUT as well:

The previous batch file should work in every DOS version, assuming ANSI.SYS (or one of its replacements, like ANSI.COM) is loaded.
With a few minor adjustments (replace .BAT with .CMD everywhere) it can be used in OS/2 as well. Use READLINE instead, however, in OS/2's DOS sessions.

The following batch file checks if ANSI.SYS is loaded. If so, it will tell the user to press the Enter key only. If not, it will tell the user to press F6 first, followed by the Enter key.
However, to check if ANSI.SYS is loaded, this batch file needs MS-DOS 6 or later.

```
@ECHO OFF
```

REM * Asks for USeR INPut and store it in variable USRINPUT

REM * Uses ANSI if available, but works without ANSI too

```
REM * Assumes MS-DOS 6 or later
```
```
REM * Written by Rob van der Woude
```
```
 
```
```
SET USRINPUT=
```
```
 
```

REM * Check if ANSI sequences can be used (needs at

REM * least MS-DOS 6 to get an errorlevel from FIND):

```
SET ANSI=1
```
```
MEM /C | FIND "ANSI" > NUL
```
```
IF ERRORLEVEL 1 SET ANSI=0
```
```
 
```

REM * Turn on ANSI key translation (translate Enter

REM * key to F6 + Enter sequence) if possible:

```
IF "%ANSI%"=="1" ECHO ←[13;0;64;13p
```
```
 
```
```
REM * Ask for input:
```

IF "%ANSI%"=="0" ECHO Enter one word only, and press F6 followed by Enter . . .

IF "%ANSI%"=="1" ECHO Enter one word only, and press Enter . . .

```
 
```

REM * Copy entered text to temporary file:

```
COPY CON %TEMP%.\~USRINP.TMP
```
```
 
```

REM * Turn off ANSI key translation and clear irrelevant screen output:

```
IF "%ANSI%"=="0" CLS
```

IF "%ANSI%"=="1" ECHO ←[13;13p←[3A←[K←[1B←[K←[1B←[K←[2A

```
 
```

REM * Add empty line to temporary file. The empty line

REM * will be used to stop DATE asking for new date.

```
ECHO.>> %TEMP%.\~USRINP.TMP
```
```
ECHO.>> %TEMP%.\~USRINP.TMP
```
```
 
```

REM * Create a temporary batch file that will store the

REM * entered text into the environment variable USRINPUT:

TYPE %TEMP%.\~USRINP.TMP | DATE | FIND "):" > %TEMP%.\~USRINP.BAT

```
 
```

REM * Create more temporary batch files. Add

REM * more command line parameters if necessary,

REM * as in: ECHO SET USRINPUT=%%3 %%4 %%5 %%6 %%7 %%8 %%9>CURRENT.BAT

```
ECHO SET USRINPUT=%%3>CURRENT.BAT
```
```
 
```

REM * VOER.BAT and TYP.BAT are replacements for CURRENT.BAT for Dutch

REM * DOS versions; add your own language versions if necessary:

```
ECHO SET USRINPUT=%%6>VOER.BAT
```
```
ECHO SET USRINPUT=%%4>TYP.BAT
```
```
 
```

REM * This temporary batch file now sets the variable USRINPUT:

```
CALL %TEMP%.\~USRINP.BAT
```
```
 
```
```
REM * Display the result:
```

IF "%ANSI%"=="0" ECHO You typed: %USRINPUT%

IF "%ANSI%"=="1" ECHO You typed: ←[1m%USRINPUT%←[0m

```
ECHO.
```
```
PAUSE
```
```
 
```

REM * Finally, clean up the mess of temporary files:

FOR %%A IN (%TEMP%.\~USRINP.BAT %TEMP%.\~USRINP.TMP VOER.BAT TYP.BAT CURRENT.BAT) DO DEL %%A

```
SET ANSI=
```
```
 
```

Batch Tools

There are many batch utilities on the web that help ask for user input.
I will list some of them here:

KiXtart

A non-batch solution for Windows 95/98/NT/2000 users is the GetS( ) function in KiXtart:

OS/2

OS/2 users may want to take a look at UserInPM, a utility written in VX-Rexx, displaying a small PM window asking for user input.
It creates a temporary batch file to set an environment variable to the typed input.
An example batch file, with the resulting PM window:

PowerShell

```
# Dialog asking for credentials
```
```
$cred = Get-Credential $username
```

# Return username and password, delimited by a semicolon

Write-Host $cred.GetNetworkCredential( ).UserName -NoNewline

```
Write-Host ";" -NoNewline
```

Write-Host $cred.GetNetworkCredential( ).Password

Save it as login.ps1, and use it to return the user name and password to a batch file:

```
param(
```
```
	[string]$UserName = $null,
```
```
	[switch]$TabDelimited,
```
```
	[switch]$h,
```

	[parameter( ValueFromRemainingArguments = $true )]

```
	[object]$invalidArgs
```
```
)
```
```
 
```
```
if ( $h -or $invalidArgs ) {
```
```
	Write-Host
```

	Write-Host "LoginDialog.ps1,  Version 1.01"

	Write-Host "Present a login dialog, and return the user name and password"

```
	Write-Host
```
```
	Write-Host "Usage:  " -NoNewline
```

	Write-Host "./LoginDialog.ps1  [ username ]  [ -TabDelimited ]" -ForegroundColor White

```
	Write-Host
```
```
	Write-Host "Where:  " -NoNewline
```

	Write-Host "username           " -ForegroundColor White -NoNewline

	Write-Host "is the optional user name presented in the dialog"

	Write-Host "        -TabDelimited      " -ForegroundColor White -NoNewline

	Write-Host "tab delimited output (default delimiter: semicolon)"

```
	Write-Host
```

	Write-Host "Written by Rob van der Woude"

	Write-Host "http://www.robvanderwoude.com"

```
	Exit 1
```
```
} else {
```
```
	Try
```
```
	{
```
```
		# Dialog asking for credentials
```
```
		$cred = Get-Credential $UserName
```
```
 
```

		# Return username and password, delimited by a semicolon (default) or tab (switch -TabDelimited)

		Write-Host $cred.GetNetworkCredential( ).UserName -NoNewline

```
		if ( $TabDelimited ) {
```
```
			Write-Host "`t" -NoNewline
```
```
		} else {
```
```
			Write-Host ";" -NoNewline
```
```
		}
```

		Write-Host $cred.GetNetworkCredential( ).Password

```
	}
```
```
	Catch
```
```
	{
```
```
		Write-Host "-- Canceled --"
```
```
		Exit 1
```
```
	}
```
```
}
```

```
<#
```
```
.SYNOPSIS
```

Display the SMART status for all local harddisks in a popup window and in Windows' Notification Area (a.k.a. System Tray)

```
 
```
```
.DESCRIPTION
```

This script uses WMI to query the status of all local physical harddisk drives, and displays the results in a popup window and in Windows' Notification Area (a.k.a. System Tray).

In the status display, each physical harddisk is associated with the drive letter of one of its volumes.

Since Windows 10 limits the number of lines in desktop notifications, any errors will be placed at the top of the displayed status list, otherwise the list is sorted by drive letter.

If all disks report OK, the script returns True and return code ("ErrorLevel") 0, otherwise False and return code 1.

Since this script uses WMI and drive letters, it will not work in Linux.

```
 
```
```
.PARAMETER Modal
```

Make the popup window always stay on top

```
 
```
```
.PARAMETER Hide
```

Hide the console window when the script is started, restore it (but minimized) afterwards

```
 
```
```
.PARAMETER Version
```

Show this script's version number; if combined with -Verbose show full script path, version number and last modified or release date

```
 
```
```
.PARAMETER Debug
```

Display intermediate results for each disk drive in console; if combined with -Verbose show intermediate results for each associated volume too

```
 
```
```
.PARAMETER Help
```
```
Show this script's help screen
```
```
 
```
```
.OUTPUTS
```

True and return code 0 if all disks report OK, otherwise False and return code 1

```
 
```
```
.EXAMPLE
```
```
. ./GetHDDStatusGUI.ps1
```

Will display a popup window with the drive letters in use and the SMART status of the associated physical harddisk drive.

```
 
```
```
.EXAMPLE
```
```
. ./GetHDDStatusGUI.ps1 -Debug -Verbose
```

Will list details for all physical harddisk drives and volumes in the console, and display a popup window with the drive letters in use and the SMART status of the associated physical harddisk drive.

```
 
```
```
.EXAMPLE
```

. ./GetHDDStatusGUI.ps1 -Version -Verbose

```
 
```

Will display this script's full path, version number and last modified or release date.

```
 
```
```
.LINK
```
```
Script written by Rob van der Woude:
```
```
https://www.robvanderwoude.com/
```
```
 
```
```
.LINK
```
```
Disk check based on code by Geoff:
```

http://www.uvm.edu/~gcd/2013/01/which-disk-is-that-volume-on

```
 
```
```
.LINK
```

System Tray ToolTip Balloon code by Don Jones:

http://blog.sapien.com/current/2007/4/27/creating-a-balloon-tip-notification-in-powershell.html

```
 
```
```
.LINK
```

Extract icons from Shell32.dll by Thomas Levesque:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/6873026

```
 
```
```
.LINK
```
```
Hide and restore console by Anthony:
```
```
http://stackoverflow.com/a/15079092
```
```
 
```
```
.LINK
```
```
Capture common parameters by mklement0:
```
```
https://stackoverflow.com/a/48643616
```
```
#>
```
```
 
```
```
param (
```

	[parameter( ValueFromRemainingArguments = $true )]

	[string[]]$Args, # Leave all argument validation to the script, not to PowerShell

```
	[switch]$Modal,
```
```
	[switch]$Hide,
```
```
	[switch]$Version,
```
```
	[switch]$Help
```
```
)
```
```
 
```
```
$progver = "1.04"
```
```
 
```

[bool]$Debug = ( $PSBoundParameters.ContainsKey( 'Debug' ) )

[bool]$Verbose = ( $PSBoundParameters.ContainsKey( 'Verbose' ) )

```
 
```

# Show help if any unnamed argument is given

$Help = $Help -or ( $Args.Length -gt 0 )

```
 
```
```
# Show help if running in Linux
```
```
$Help = $Help -or ( $HOME[0] -eq '/' )
```
```
 
```
```
# Help disables Hide parameter
```
```
$Hide = $Hide -and -not $Help
```
```
 
```
```
# Debug disables Hide parameter
```
```
$Hide = $Hide -and -not $Debug
```
```
 
```
```
if ( $Help ) {
```
```
	Get-Help "$PSCommandPath" -Full
```
```
	exit 1
```
```
}
```
```
 
```
```
if ( $Version ) {
```
```
	if ( $Verbose ) {
```

		$lastmod = ( [System.IO.File]::GetLastWriteTime( $PSCommandPath ) )

		if ( $lastmod.ToString( "h.mm" ) -eq $progver ) {

			"`"{0}`", Version {1}, release date {2}" -f $PSCommandPath, $progver, $lastmod.ToString( "yyyy-MM-dd" )

```
		} else {
```

			# if last modified time is not equal to program version, the script has been tampered with

			"`"{0}`", Version {1}, last modified date {2}" -f $PSCommandPath, $progver, $lastmod.ToString( "yyyy-MM-dd" )

```
		}
```
```
	} else {
```
```
		$progver
```
```
	}
```
```
	exit 0
```
```
}
```
```
 
```
```
#######################################
```
```
# Hide console window                 #
```
```
# by Anthony on StackOverflow.com     #
```
```
# http://stackoverflow.com/a/15079092 #
```
```
#######################################
```
```
 
```
```
$signature1 = @'
```

public static void ShowConsoleWindow( int state )

```
{
```
```
	var handle = GetConsoleWindow( );
```
```
	ShowWindow( handle, state );
```
```
}
```
```
 
```

[System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport( "kernel32.dll" )]

static extern IntPtr GetConsoleWindow( );

```
 
```

[System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport( "user32.dll" )]

static extern bool ShowWindow( IntPtr hWnd, int nCmdShow );

```
'@
```
```
 
```

$hideconsole = Add-Type -MemberDefinition $signature1 -Name Hide -Namespace HideConsole -ReferencedAssemblies System.Runtime.InteropServices -PassThru

```
 
```
```
# Hide console
```
```
if ( $Hide ) {
```
```
	$hideconsole::ShowConsoleWindow( 0 )
```
```
}
```
```
 
```
```
##################
```
```
# Disk inventory #
```
```
##################
```
```
 
```

[System.Collections.SortedList]$volumedetails = New-Object System.Collections.SortedList

[System.Collections.SortedList]$volumestatus  = New-Object System.Collections.SortedList

```
 
```
```
if ( $Debug ) {
```

	Write-Host "Disk#`tStatus`tSize (GB)`tModel"

	Write-Host "=====`t======`t=========`t====="

```
}
```
```
 
```

$diskdrives = Get-WmiObject -Namespace "root/CIMV2" -Class Win32_DiskDrive

```
$warnings   = $false
```
```
foreach ( $disk in $diskdrives ) {
```
```
	$diskindex  = $disk.Index
```

	$diskmodel  = $disk.Model -replace "Disk Device","Disk"

	$disksize   = "{0,5:F0} GB" -f ( $disk.Size / 1GB )

```
	$diskstatus = $disk.Status
```
```
	if ( $Debug ) {
```
```
		if ( $Verbose ) {
```
```
			Write-Host
```
```
		}
```

		Write-Host ( "{0}`t{1}`t{2}`t{3}" -f $diskindex, $diskstatus, $disksize, $diskmodel )

```
	}
```

	$part_query = 'ASSOCIATORS OF {Win32_DiskDrive.DeviceID="' + $disk.DeviceID.replace('\','\\') + '"} WHERE AssocClass=Win32_DiskDriveToDiskPartition'

	$partitions = @( Get-WmiObject -Query $part_query | Sort-Object StartingOffset )

	foreach ( $partition in $partitions ) {

		$vol_query = 'ASSOCIATORS OF {Win32_DiskPartition.DeviceID="' + $partition.DeviceID + '"} WHERE AssocClass=Win32_LogicalDiskToPartition'

		$volumes   = @( Get-WmiObject -Query $vol_query )

```
		foreach ( $volume in $volumes ) {
```

			# 0 = Unknown; 1 = No Root Directory; 2 = Removable Disk; 3 = Local Disk; 4 = Network Drive; 5 = Compact Disc; 6 = RAM Disk

```
			# DriveType 3 means harddisks only
```
```
			if ( $volume.DriveType -eq 3 ) {
```
```
				if ( $Debug -and $Verbose ) {
```

					Write-Host ( "{0}`t{1,2}`t{2}`t{3}" -f $diskindex, $volume.Name, $disksize, $diskmodel )

```
				}
```

				if ( -not $volumedetails.Contains( $volume.Name ) ) {

					$volumedetails.Add( $volume.Name, "[Disk {0,2}]  {1}  {2}" -f ( $diskindex, $disksize, $diskmodel ) )

					$volumestatus.Add( $volume.Name, $diskstatus )

```
				}
```
```
			}
```
```
		}
```
```
	}
```
```
}
```
```
 
```
```
 
```
```
#################
```
```
# Dialog window #
```
```
#################
```
```
 
```

Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms

```
 
```

[System.Windows.Forms.Application]::EnableVisualStyles( )

```
 
```

$form = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Form

```
$form.Width           = 640
```

$form.Height          = 25 * $volumedetails.Count + 120

$form.Font            = 'Courier New, 10'

```
$form.BackColor       = 'White'
```
```
$form.MaximizeBox     = $false;
```
```
$form.FormBorderStyle = 'FixedSingle'
```
```
$form.TopMost         = $Modal
```
```
 
```
```
$y    = 0
```
```
$even = $false
```
```
$volumedetails.Keys | ForEach-Object {
```

	$label           = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label

```
	$label.Size      = '35, 20'
```

	$label.Location  = New-Object System.Drawing.Point( 10, ( 15 + $y ) )

```
	$label.Text      = "$_"
```

	if ( $even ) { $label.BackColor = 'ButtonFace' }

```
	$form.Controls.Add( $label )
```
```
 
```

	$status          = ( $volumestatus[$_] )

	$label           = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label

```
	$label.Size      = '40, 20 '
```

	$label.Location  = New-Object System.Drawing.Point( 45, ( 15 + $y ) )

```
	$label.Text      = $status
```
```
	if ( $status -eq "OK" ) {
```
```
		$label.ForeColor = 'Green'
```
```
	} else {
```
```
		$label.ForeColor = 'Red'
```
```
		$warnings        = $true
```
```
	}
```

	if ( $even ) { $label.BackColor = 'ButtonFace' }

```
	$form.Controls.Add( $label )
```
```
 
```

	$label           = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label

```
	$label.Size      = '490, 20'
```

	$label.Location  = New-Object System.Drawing.Point( 85, ( 15 + $y ) )

```
	$label.Text      = $volumedetails[$_]
```

	if ( $even ) { $label.BackColor = 'ButtonFace' }

```
	$form.Controls.Add( $label )
```
```
 
```
```
	$y    = $y + 25
```
```
	$even = -not $even
```
```
}
```
```
 
```
```
if ( $warnings ) {
```
```
	$form.Text = "HDD Status Warning"
```
```
} else {
```
```
	$form.Text = "HDD Status OK"
```
```
}
```
```
 
```

$buttonOK           = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Button

```
$buttonOK.BackColor = 'ButtonFace'
```
```
$buttonOK.Text      = "OK"
```
```
$buttonOK.Size      = '60,24'
```

$buttonOK.Location  = New-Object System.Drawing.Point( 85, ( 30 + $y ) )

```
$form.Controls.Add( $buttonOK )
```

$form.AcceptButton  = $buttonOK # Pressing Enter  closes the dialog

$form.CancelButton  = $buttonOK # Pressing Escape closes the dialog

```
 
```
```
 
```

########################################

# System tray balloon tip notification #

########################################

```
 
```

[System.Windows.Forms.ToolTipIcon]$icon = [System.Windows.Forms.ToolTipIcon]::Info

```
$title = "HDD Status OK"
```
```
$systraymessage = ""
```
```
$volumedetails.Keys | ForEach-Object {
```
```
	$status = ( $volumestatus[$_] )
```
```
	if ( $status -eq "OK" ) {
```

		$systraymessage = $systraymessage + "$_`t$status`n" # list in alphabetical sort order

```
	} else {
```

		$systraymessage = "$_`t$status`n$systraymessage" # errors at top of list

		$icon = [System.Windows.Forms.ToolTipIcon]::Error

```
		$title = "Warning: HDD Errors"
```
```
	}
```
```
}
```
```
 
```
```
 
```

################################################################

# Extract system tray icon from Shell32.dll                    #

# C# code to extract icons from Shell32.dll by Thomas Levesque #

# http://stackoverflow.com/questions/6873026                   #

################################################################

```
 
```
```
$signature2 = @'
```

[DllImport( "Shell32.dll", EntryPoint = "ExtractIconExW", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, ExactSpelling = true, CallingConvention = CallingConvention.StdCall )]

private static extern int ExtractIconEx( string sFile, int iIndex, out IntPtr piLargeVersion, out IntPtr piSmallVersion, int amountIcons );

```
 
```

public static Icon Extract( string file, int number, bool largeIcon )

```
{
```
```
	IntPtr large;
```
```
	IntPtr small;
```

	ExtractIconEx( file, number, out large, out small, 1 );

```
	try
```
```
	{
```

		return Icon.FromHandle( largeIcon ? large : small );

```
	}
```
```
	catch
```
```
	{
```
```
		return null;
```
```
	}
```
```
}
```
```
'@
```
```
 
```

$iconextractor = Add-Type -MemberDefinition $signature2 -Name IconExtract -Namespace IconExtractor -ReferencedAssemblies System.Windows.Forms,System.Drawing -UsingNamespace System.Windows.Forms,System.Drawing -PassThru

```
 
```
```
# System tray icon depends on status
```
```
if( $title -eq "HDD Status OK" ) {
```

	$systrayicon = $iconextractor::Extract( "C:\Windows\System32\shell32.dll", 223, $true )

```
} else {
```

	$systrayicon = $iconextractor::Extract( "C:\Windows\System32\shell32.dll", 53, $true )

```
}
```
```
 
```
```
# Show system tray icon and balloon tip
```

$notify = New-Object System.windows.Forms.NotifyIcon

$notify.BalloonTipText = $systraymessage

```
$notify.BalloonTipTitle = $title
```

$notify.BalloonTipIcon = [System.Windows.Forms.ToolTipIcon]$icon

```
$notify.Icon = $systrayicon
```
```
$notify.Visible = $true
```
```
$notify.ShowBalloonTip( 30000 )
```
```
 
```
```
# Show dialog
```
```
[void] $form.ShowDialog( )
```
```
 
```
```
 
```

##########################################

# Restore console minimized (2)          #

# Change to 1 to restore to normal state #

##########################################

```
 
```
```
if ( $Hide ) {
```
```
	$hideconsole::ShowConsoleWindow( 2 )
```
```
}
```
```
 
```
```
#################################
```
```
# Exit code 1 in case of errors #
```
```
#################################
```
```
 
```
```
if ( $warnings ) {
```
```
	$false
```
```
	exit 1
```
```
} else {
```
```
	$true
```
```
	exit 0
```
```
}
```
```
 
```

PowerShell on-the-fly

It is possible to write batch files using PowerShell without requiring a (temporary) PowerShell script.
This is where PowerShell's -Command switch comes in handy.
However, don't expect it to make your code readable, and maintenance will be a real nightmare.

Powershell.exe -Command "Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms; [void] [System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox]::Show( 'Just a popup message', 'Message' )"

VBScript and Internet Explorer (discontinued in 2022)

Advanced dialog boxes, output and input, including (masked) password prompts, can also be created using VBScript and Internet Explorer, but I would not recommend creating them on the fly.

Notes:	1.	The code above is wrapped to allow a quick overview, but should be entered as a single line in a batch file.
	2.	Use single quotes for strings inside the PowerShell code, and backquotes for the batch file's `FOR` command.
	3.	Do not use backquotes for PowerShell literals! If you have to use PowerShell literals, enter them as `[char]` as shown in the following code: FOR /F "usebackq" %%A IN (`Powershell.exe -Command "Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms; [System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox]::Show( ( 'Are you sure you want to continue?{0}Really, really sure?' -f [char]0x0D ), 'Be Careful', [System.Windows.Forms.MessageBoxButtons]::YesNoCancel, [System.Windows.Forms.MessageBoxIcon]::Exclamation, [System.Windows.Forms.MessageBoxDefaultButton]::Button2, [System.Windows.Forms.MessageBoxOptions]::ServiceNotification )"`) DO SET Answer=%%A `( 'Are you sure you want to continue?{0}Really, really sure?' -f [char]0x0D )` instead of 'Are you sure you want to continue?`nReally, really sure?'

Notes:	1.	The code above is wrapped to allow a quick overview, but should be entered as a single line in a batch file.
Notes:	2.	Credentials are stored in the environment variables `Login.Name` and `Login.Passwd`

Note:	For peace of mind, I would recommend not using this technique at all: every now and then a Windows/IE update and/or too "tight" security settings will break the code, forcing you to rewrite it. My "educated guess" is that PowerShell code as shown above will last longer.
Update:	On June 15, 2022, Microsoft ended support for Internet Explorer, and announced that it would be removed in a future Windows Update. Do not use this technique any longer.