This example shows the effect of SET TALK ON and SET TALK OFF while creating a memory variable:

Oldtalk=SET("TALK")
set talk on
First="Susan" // Susan
Last="O'Shenko" // O'Shenko
Name=Last+", "+First
set talk off
First="Tom"
Last="Frost"
Name=Last+", "+First
? Name
// Name will be set to "Frost, Tom" but this will not
// be displayed in the status bar
set talk &Oldtalk

When TALK is OFF, the assignment of "Tom" to First and "Frost" to Last and "Frost, Tom" to Name are not displayed.

In the following example Count displays to the status bar when TALK is ON:

close all
use company
set talk on // Talk on
count to Recs // Count displays in status bar
set talk off // Talk off
count to Recs // No display