Ref: 03050012
Title: Using @ Character to Suppress Output in Batch and Command Files
Date:  9/21/90

Copyright 3Com Corporation, 1991.  All rights reserved.

It is possible to completely suppress output from batch files and OS/2
command files while they execute--except for output that you want to go to
the display screen.  The usual method of suppressing display output within
batch files is to put an "echo off" at the beginning of the file.
Unfortunately, using this method causes the initial line ("echo off") to be
displayed before echoing is actually turned off.  However, on workstations
running OS/2, or running DOS version 3.30 and later, this difficulty can be
circumvented using the @ (at-sign) symbol at the beginning of the lines in
the file.

A line in a batch or command file that begins with an @ character
will NOT be echoed to the display screen, even if echoing is turned on.
An "echo off" line, if preceded by an @, will not be echoed.  Therefore,
if you begin your file with "@echo off", nothing will be echoed except what
the batch file specifically outputs to the screen.  Furthermore, even when
echoing is left on, the echoing of specific lines can be suppressed by
putting an @ at the beginning of those particular lines.
