Skip to main content

How to Create a Simple Menu System in a Batch Script

A menu is one of the best ways to make a batch script interactive and user-friendly. Instead of forcing a user to remember command-line arguments, you can present them with a numbered or lettered list of options. This turns a simple script into a guided tool, making it more accessible and easier to use.

This guide will teach you how to create a robust menu system using a combination of ECHO commands to display the options, the CHOICE command to capture a single keypress without requiring Enter, and GOTO commands to direct the script's flow based on the user's selection.

The Core Components of a Menu System​

A good menu script is built like a loop and has three main parts:

  1. Display the Menu: Clear the screen and use a series of ECHO commands to show the user their options in a clean, readable format. This part of the code is usually marked with a label (e.g., :Menu).
  2. Get User Input: Wait for the user to select an option. The CHOICE command is perfect for this, as it captures a single keypress instantly.
  3. Process the Choice: Use a series of IF ERRORLEVEL or IF "%ERRORLEVEL%" statements to determine which key was pressed and then use GOTO to jump to the section of the script that handles that specific action. After the action is complete, it usually jumps back to the :Menu label.

The Core Command for Input: CHOICE​

While SET /P can get input, it requires the user to press Enter. The CHOICE command is far superior for menus because it reacts to a single keypress. It communicates the user's selection back to the script by setting the %ERRORLEVEL% variable to the 1-based index of the key pressed.

Syntax for a menu: CHOICE /C 123 /N /M "Your choice: "

  • /C 123: Specifies the valid Choices are the keys 1, 2, and 3.
  • /N: No prompt. This hides the default [1,2,3]? text, allowing us to create a clean, custom prompt.
  • /M "...": The Message to display to the user.

The Script: A Basic Numbered Menu​

This script demonstrates the fundamental loop and logic of a menu system.

@ECHO OFF
:MainMenu
    CLS
    ECHO ===========================
    ECHO      MY SCRIPT MENU
    ECHO ===========================
    ECHO.
    ECHO   1. Display Hello
    ECHO   2. Display Goodbye
    ECHO   3. Exit
    ECHO.
    
    CHOICE /C 123 /N /M "Please enter your choice [1,2,3]: "
    
    REM --- Process the choice. Remember to check ERRORLEVEL from HIGHEST to LOWEST ---
    IF ERRORLEVEL 3 GOTO :ExitScript
    IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO :Option2
    IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO :Option1

:Option1
    ECHO.
    ECHO Hello, World!
    PAUSE
    GOTO :MainMenu

:Option2
    ECHO.
    ECHO Goodbye!
    PAUSE
    GOTO :MainMenu

:ExitScript
    ECHO.
    ECHO Exiting the script.
    EXIT /B

How the Menu Script works:

  1. :MainMenu: A label that marks the start of our menu loop.
  2. CLS: The Clear Screen command is essential. It wipes the screen of any previous output, ensuring the menu is always displayed cleanly at the top.
  3. ECHO ...: A series of ECHO commands prints the menu options.
  4. CHOICE ...: This command pauses the script and waits for the user to press 1, 2, or 3.
  5. IF ERRORLEVEL ...: This is the decision-making block. Because IF ERRORLEVEL N means "if the error level is N or greater," we must check for the highest number (3) first.
  6. GOTO :OptionX: The script jumps to the label corresponding to the user's choice.
  7. PAUSE: At the end of an option's logic, PAUSE is used to hold the output on the screen until the user is ready to return to the menu.
  8. GOTO :MainMenu: After the pause, this command sends the script back to the beginning of the loop to display the menu again.

Key CHOICE Parameters for Menus​

  • /C <Choices>: (Required) The list of valid keys. You can use letters too, e.g., /C ABCQ.
  • /N: Hides the default prompt text ([A,B,C,Q]?). Essential for a clean menu interface.
  • /M <Message>: The text to display as the prompt.
  • /T <Seconds> /D <Choice>: Adds a Timeout. If the user doesn't press a key in <Seconds>, the Default choice <Choice> is automatically selected.

Common Pitfalls and How to Solve Them​

  • Incorrect ERRORLEVEL Order: This is the #1 mistake. Checking IF ERRORLEVEL 1 first will cause the script to always select Option 1, because all choices (1, 2, and 3) are "1 or greater." Solution: Always check from highest to lowest.

  • Screen Clutter: Forgetting to put CLS at the top of the menu loop will cause the menu to be reprinted below the output of the last command, creating a messy and confusing display. Solution: Always start your menu display block with CLS.

  • Forgetting to Loop: Forgetting the GOTO :MainMenu at the end of an option's block will cause the script to "fall through" and execute the code for the next option. Solution: Ensure every option block ends with a GOTO that either returns to the menu or exits the script.

Practical Example: A System Utilities Toolbox​

This script provides a user with a handy menu of common diagnostic tools.

@ECHO OFF
:Menu
    CLS
    ECHO ===============================
    ECHO      SYSTEM UTILITIES
    ECHO ===============================
    ECHO  1. Show Network Configuration
    ECHO  2. Check for Active Connections
    ECHO  3. Ping Google's DNS
    ECHO  4. Exit
    ECHO.
    
    CHOICE /C 1234 /N /M "Select a utility to run [1-4]: "
    
    IF ERRORLEVEL 4 GOTO :EOF
    IF ERRORLEVEL 3 GOTO :RunPing
    IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO :RunNetstat
    IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO :RunIpconfig

:RunIpconfig
    CLS
    ECHO --- Network Configuration ---
    ipconfig /all
    PAUSE
    GOTO :Menu
    
:RunNetstat
    CLS
    ECHO --- Active Connections ---
    netstat -an
    PAUSE
    GOTO :Menu

:RunPing
    CLS
    ECHO --- Pinging 8.8.8.8 ---
    ping 8.8.8.8
    PAUSE
    GOTO :Menu

Conclusion​

A menu system transforms a simple script into a user-friendly application. The CHOICE command is the ideal tool for this, providing instant, single-keypress input.

For a robust and effective menu:

  1. Structure your script as a loop, starting with a label (e.g., :Menu).
  2. Always begin your display block with CLS for a clean screen.
  3. Use CHOICE /C ... to get the user's input.
  4. Process the result by checking %ERRORLEVEL% from highest to lowest.
  5. Use GOTO to direct the script flow, and always loop back to the menu label after an action is complete.

Table of Contents