How to accept user input command in batch file?

Question

I would like to write a batch file in which the user input would be run as a command, essentially functioning like command prompt.

Example:

batch file is run:
user input: echo hello
program output: hello

How would I implement this?

Solution

Use set /P to get the user's input into a variable, then run the variable as if it's a command:

@echo off
set /P CommandVar=Command? 
%CommandVar%

From set /?:

The /P switch allows you to set the value of a variable to a line of input entered by the user. Displays the specified promptString before reading the line of input. The promptString can be empty.

Comments

[Shekhar]

stackoverflow.com/questions/26551/…

[LPChip]

Oh wow, I never knew you could actually execute a command like that. Thanks. I learned something today. :)