DOCUMENT:Q57658 17-DEC-2000 [msdos] TITLE :Setting the MS-DOS Errorlevel in a Program PRODUCT :Microsoft Disk Operating System PROD/VER:MS-DOS:3.x,4.x,5.0,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22 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, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= This article explains how you can set the errorlevel of a program for use by the MS-DOS batch file IF ERRORLEVEL command. MORE INFORMATION ================ If you are writing a program that is going to be invoked from within an MS-DOS batch file that uses the IF ERRORLEVEL command, you can use Interrupt 21H Function 4CH, "Terminate Process with Return Code" to set the errorlevel in your program. This function terminates the program and returns the errorlevel to the parent process, which in this case is COMMAND.COM running the batch file. The parameters for Interrupt 21H, Function 4CH are AH = 4CH, AL = errorlevel, followed by a call to Interrupt 21H. The errorlevel can be any value in the range 0 to 255 (0 to FF, hexadecimal). REFERENCES ========== "Microsoft MS-DOS User's Guide and Reference" for versions 4.x. "Microsoft MS-DOS Programmer's Reference," version 4.0, Chapter 1, pages 237-238. "MS-DOS Encyclopedia," Ray Duncan, Microsoft Press, Article 4, pages 115-117, and Section V, pages 1375-1376. "Advanced MS-DOS Programming," Ray Duncan, Microsoft Press, Section II, pages 443-444. "The New Peter Norton Programmer's Guide to the IBM PC & PS/2," Peter Norton and Richard Wilton, Microsoft Press, Chapter 17, page 377. Additional query words: 6.22 3.2 3.20 3.21 3.3 3.30 3.3a 3.30a 4.00 4.00a 4.01 4.01a 5.00 5.00a 6.00 6.20 error level ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS321 kbMSDOS400 kbMSDOS320 kbMSDOS330a kbMSDOS621 kbMSDOS622 kbMSDOS620 kbMSDOS600 kbMSDOS310 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS330 kbMSDOS401 Version : MS-DOS:3.x,4.x,5.0,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22 ============================================================================= 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.