Computer and Software Support


Pause

This page is from Microsoft

Updated: January 21, 2005

Suspends the processing of a batch program and displays a message that prompts the user to press any key to continue.
 
 
Syntax
pause
Parameters
/?
Displays help at the command prompt.
Remarks
  • When you run the prompt command, the following message appears: 
    Press any key to continue . . .
  • If you press CTRL+C to stop a batch program, the following message appears: 
    Terminate batch job (Y/N)?

    If you press Y (for yes) in response to this message, the batch program ends and control returns to the operating system. Therefore, you can insert the pause command before a section of the batch file that you might not want to process. While pause suspends processing of the batch program, you can press CTRL+C and then press Y to stop the batch program.

 
Examples
To create a batch program that prompts the user to change disks in one of the drives, type: 
@echo off 
:begin 
copy a:*.* 
echo Put a new disk into drive A 
pause 
goto begin

In this example, all the files on the disk in drive A are copied to the current directory. After the message prompts you to put a new disk in drive A, the pause command suspends processing so that you can change disks and then press any key to resume processing. This particular batch program runs in an endless loop. The goto BEGIN command sends the command interpreter to the begin label of the batch file. To stop this batch program, press CTRL+C and then press Y.

Formatting legend

Format Meaning
Italic Information that the user must supply
Bold Elements that the user must type exactly as shown
Ellipsis (...) Parameter that can be repeated several times in a command line
Between brackets ([]) Optional items
Between braces ({}); choices separated by pipe (|). Example: {even|odd} Set of choices from which the user must choose only one
Courier font Code or program output