DOCUMENT:Q69576 17-DEC-2000 [msdos] TITLE :Testing for a Specific Error Level in Batch Files PRODUCT :Microsoft Disk Operating System PROD/VER:MS-DOS:3.x,4.x,5.x,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 3.1, 3.2, 3.21, 3.3, 3.3a, 4.0, 4.01, 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= The Microsoft MS-DOS "IF ERRORLEVEL " statement checks for error levels of the given number or greater. If you want to check for a specific error level, you should use the following command construct IF ERRORLEVEL IF NOT ERRORLEVEL where is the desired number. The portion of the command must be calculated as the command is entered, because the MS-DOS command interpreter cannot perform mathematical calculations. MORE INFORMATION ================ The nested IF statements allow specific selection of an error level because the NOT operator effectively reverses the inequality. The command IF ERRORLEVEL 5 ... is equivalent to the algebraic construct IF E = 5 OR E > 5 THEN ... while the command IF NOT ERRORLEVEL 6 is equivalent to the algebraic construct: IF E < 6 THEN ... The combination of the two IF commands works as described because the second IF is executed only if the first is true, and the is executed only if the second is true; therefore, the combination of the two commands is executed only if BOTH are true. Because the desired error level is bracketed with the two tests, the entire conditional is TRUE only when ERRORLEVEL is exactly that value. This same syntax can be expanded to cover a sequential range of ERRORLEVEL return codes by increasing the difference between the values checked for. Additional query words: 6.22 3.20 3.21 3.30 3.30a 4.00 4.01 5.00 6.00 6.20 ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS321 kbMSDOS400 kbMSDOS320 kbMSDOS330a kbMSDOS621 kbMSDOS622 kbMSDOS620 kbMSDOS600 kbMSDOS310 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS330 kbMSDOS401 kbMSDOS500a Version : MS-DOS:3.x,4.x,5.x,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2000.