Missing <CR> after Batch Label Causes Repeat of Last Command (34760)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.3
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.3a
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 4.0
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0
This article was previously published under Q34760

SUMMARY

If the last line in a batch file is a label and there is no carriage return character after the label, the command immediately preceding the label will be executed twice.

The workaround for this problem is to include a carriage return at the end of a label.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in MS-DOS versions 3.3, 3.30a, 4.0, and 5.0. This problem was corrected in MS-DOS version 6.0.

MORE INFORMATION

The following batch file 
echo hello <cr>
:label <cr>
<eof>
will produce the following output: 
C>echo hello
hello

C>
C>
If the carriage return after the label is omitted, as follows 
echo hello <cr>
:label <eof>
the file will produce the following output: 
C>echo hello
hello
hello

C>
C>
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/25/2003
Keywords:KB34760
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