MS-DOS Window Remains on Screen After Application Is Finished

ID: Q122514

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you are running an MS-DOS-based application from an icon in Windows 95, the MS-DOS window remains open with the text "Finished - <Application Name>" appearing on the title bar after the application has finished executing.


CAUSE

The MS-DOS window remains open so that you can see any messages, such as errors, that may be generated by the MS-DOS-based application. This window appears for any MS-DOS-based application that generates output.


RESOLUTION

You can change the program properties for the MS-DOS-based application so that it closes on exit. To do this:

  1. Use the right (secondary) mouse button to click the icon for the MS-DOS-based application.


  2. Click Properties.


  3. Click the Program tab.


  4. Click Close On Exit to select that option.


  5. Click OK to accept the settings.


The MS-DOS-based application window should now close after the application has finished executing. You must change this setting for each MS-DOS-based application individually--there is no way to set this option globally.

Note, however, that you can set this option globally for all MS-DOS-based programs that do not already have their own PIF (program information file). To do this, create a default PIF with the setting listed above. For information about creating a default PIF, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q131877 How to Create Default PIF for MS-DOS-Based Programs


MORE INFORMATION

If you are running a batch file, you can close the MS-DOS window by adding the following lines to the end of the batch file: 


   echo off
   cls

Additional query words: 3rdparty

Keywords : win95 winshell appscomp wpp95
Version : 95
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: June 8, 1999
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