Timeout
Updated: January 21, 2005
Pauses the command processor for the specified number of
seconds.
Syntax
timeout/tTimeoutInSeconds [/nobreak]
Parameters
/tTimeoutInSeconds
Specifies the decimal number of seconds (between
-1 and 99999) to wait before the command
processor continues processing. The value -1
causes the computer to wait indefinitely for a
keystroke.
/nobreak
Specifies to ignore a user key stroke.
/?
Displays help at the command prompt.
Remarks
- The timeout command is typically used in batch files.
- A user keystroke resumes the command processor execution immediately, even if the time-out period has not expired.
- Timeout is similar to the MS-DOSpause command when you use it in conjunction with the sleep command.
Examples
To pause the command processor for ten seconds, type:
timeout /t 10
To pause the command processor for 100 seconds and to ignore any key press, type:
timeout /t 100 /nobreak
To pause the command processor indefinitely until a key is pressed, type:
timeout /t -1
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 |