Hey Raymond!

 RY> Batch files came before scripts (at the user end) because the user
 RY> did not have access to the screen...

That makes perfect sense with respect to what I originally saw way back
when.  Those were the days I, for one, viewed computers as totally useless
with regards to normal day-to-day human pursuits.  I recall hearing later
on Apple decided we would all have computers in our homes and thinking,
"Yeah right!"  Another thing I was wrong about.  However, in my defence,
I think I was right that things had to dramatically change before that
would, or even could, happen.  I think it was really IBM that sewed the
seeds and made it a reality, despite what they really thought about the PC.

 RY> the scripts were the domain of the sysop who took in the batches,
 RY> and had the power to assign priorities.. the user if he was
 RY> lucky, got back the original cards, and a printout..

Yeah.  Whatever were on those cards, I am betting I could have done the
same thing without a computer, had lunch, finished the rest of the day,
and go for afterwork drinks with my cohorts, while whoever as still waiting
in line to feed in their punchcards.  :-)

 RY> In the greater scheme of things batches and scripts were developed
 RY> about the same time, but were seperated by who used what..

Perhaps scripting became more significant once punch cards were abandoned?
Offhand it seems to me that I never even heard of "batch files" until DOS.
But then again, I never, ever wanted anything to do with computers so my
perspective is probably tainted by when I got forced into cyberspace.
Punchcards were history by then and anything meaningful was read from
tape.  Most output was to some other hardware, in my situation a plotter
or another tape.

 RY> At least in my experience.. 

It seems to fit to what I saw happening.  Makes sense to me anyhow.

- Maurice


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