ECHO Data On Input or Results on Output, Blossom Statistics

The ECHO command is used to control extent of information displayed to the output window (or console screen). The command line syntax of the ECHO command is:

        ECHO DATA=ON|OFF OUTPUT=ON|OFF
        - or -
        ECHO DEFAULT

ECHO can be used with either the DATA or OUTPUT specifier, or both, or with the DEFAULT specifier.

Echoing data on input allows inspection of data values read into Blossom when a file is accessed with the USE command. Turning this echo off reduces the amount of text scrolled in the output window (console screen). ECHO DATA=ON causes data values to be displayed, and ECHO DATA=OFF stops this display. The default is OFF, as normally a user has no need to re-inspect data values.

Writing statistical results to the output window (console screen) is the default for Blossom. In some situations, such as the processing of large submit files (Blossom command files) with the SUBMIT command, the extensive writing of output to the screen may increase program runtime. Turning off the echo of output decreases program runtime by reducing text written to the screen. All statistical results are always written to the Blossom output file, so there is no problem recovering results from such a "batch-mode" session.

When engaged in an interactive session with Blossom, a user normally prefers to view statistical results immediately, so the default mode is ECHO OUTPUT=ON. ECHO OUTPUT=OFF stops screen output of these results. In any case, all statistical results are written to an output file.

ECHO DEFAULT sets the echo modes for data and output results to Blossom default values and is the same as ECHO DATA=OFF OUTPUT=ON.

For example,

        >ECHO DATA=ON

tells Blossom to show values from the USEd data file, and

        >ECHO OUTPUT=OFF DATA=OFF

tells Blossom to stop screen output of statistical results and to not display data values as they are read. The command:

        >ECHO DEFAULT

sets ECHO values to their default, which is the same as.

        >ECHO DATA=ON|OFF OUTPUT=ON|OFF