A common mistake is to include a multiple-line block statement in a batch file as shown below: This will not work in batch mode.

Multiline statements must be continued on the next line using the $ continuation character, because IDL terminates every interactive mode statement not ending with $ by an END statement. Labels are illegal in the batch mode because each statement is compiled and executed independently. RUN, in which all statements in a program are compiled as a single unit and then executed. This differs from the interpretation of programs compiled using. In batch mode, IDL executes each statement before reading the next statement. Interpretation of Batch StatementsĮach line of a batch file is interpreted exactly as if it was entered from the keyboard at the IDL command line. Calling the EXIT procedure from the batch procedure has the usual effect of terminating IDL. If filename includes a full path specification, IDL does not search the directories in !PATH.īatch execution can be terminated before the end of the file, with control returning to interactive mode without exiting IDL, by calling the STOP procedure from the batch file. PRO extension), the file is executed and the search ends. If filename is found (with or without the. If filename.pro is not found in a given directory, IDL searches for filename with no extension in that directory. If filename does not include a file extension, IDL searches the current working directory and the directories specified by the !PATH system variable for a file with filename as its base, with the file extension.

Note: Batch files can be nested by placing a call to one batch file within another, or they can call functions or routines. (Note that the symbol must be the first character on the line in order for it to be interpreted properly.) IDL reads commands inside the specified file until the end of the file is reached. To enter batch mode from the IDL command line, type: the IDL prompt, where filename is the name of the batch file. You can run IDL in non-interactive mode (batch mode) by entering the character followed by the name of a file containing IDL executive commands and statements. Instead, IDL interprets and executes each statement inside of a batch file sequentially, as if you had entered them directly at the IDL command prompt. Batch files are not programs - they cannot be compiled and run. PRO files that contain a series of single IDL statements, executed in order.

Batch file close program