diff --git a/orcli b/orcli
index c248f14..ae6095a 100755
--- a/orcli
+++ b/orcli
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
-# This script was generated by bashly 0.8.7 (https://bashly.dannyb.co)
+# This script was generated by bashly 0.8.9 (https://bashly.dannyb.co)
 # Modifying it manually is not recommended
 
 # :wrapper.bash3_bouncer
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ orcli_usage() {
   # :command.usage_commands
   printf "Commands:\n"
   echo "  completions   Generate bash completions"
-  echo "  batch         run tmp OpenRefine workspace and execute shell script"
+  echo "  batch         run tmp OpenRefine workspace and execute shell script(s)"
   echo "  import        import commands"
   echo "  list          list projects on OpenRefine server"
   echo "  info          show project metadata"
@@ -121,11 +121,11 @@ orcli_completions_usage() {
 # :command.usage
 orcli_batch_usage() {
   if [[ -n $long_usage ]]; then
-    printf "orcli batch - run tmp OpenRefine workspace and execute shell script\n"
+    printf "orcli batch - run tmp OpenRefine workspace and execute shell script(s)\n"
     echo
 
   else
-    printf "orcli batch - run tmp OpenRefine workspace and execute shell script\n"
+    printf "orcli batch - run tmp OpenRefine workspace and execute shell script(s)\n"
     echo
 
   fi
@@ -158,8 +158,8 @@ orcli_batch_usage() {
     echo
 
     # :flag.usage
-    echo "  --interactive"
-    printf "    provide interactive Bash shell for playground and debugging\n"
+    echo "  --debug"
+    printf "    do not exit on error and keep shell open\n"
     echo
 
     # :command.usage_args
@@ -173,7 +173,6 @@ orcli_batch_usage() {
 
     # :command.usage_examples
     printf "Examples:\n"
-    printf "  orcli batch --interactive\n"
     printf "  orcli batch << EOF\n    orcli import csv \"https://git.io/fj5hF\" --projectName \"duplicates\"\n    orcli info \"duplicates\"\n    orcli export tsv \"duplicates\"\n  EOF\n"
     printf "  orcli batch --memory \"2000M\" --port \"3334\" << EOF\n    orcli import csv \"https://git.io/fj5hF\" --projectName \"duplicates\" &\n    orcli import csv \"https://git.io/fj5hF\" --projectName \"copy\" &\n    wait\n    echo \"finished import\"\n    orcli export csv \"duplicates\" --output duplicates.csv &\n    orcli export tsv \"duplicates\" --output duplicates.tsv &\n    wait\n    wc duplicates*\n  EOF\n"
     printf "  orcli batch \"file1.sh\" \"file2.sh\" - << EOF\n    echo \"finished in \$SECONDS seconds\"\n  EOF\n"
@@ -704,7 +703,7 @@ send_completions() {
   echo $'      ;;'
   echo $''
   echo $'    \'batch\'*)'
-  echo $'      while read -r; do COMPREPLY+=( "$REPLY" ); done < <( compgen -W "$(_orcli_completions_filter "--help --interactive --memory --port -h")" -- "$cur" )'
+  echo $'      while read -r; do COMPREPLY+=( "$REPLY" ); done < <( compgen -W "$(_orcli_completions_filter "--debug --help --memory --port -h")" -- "$cur" )'
   echo $'      ;;'
   echo $''
   echo $'    \'list\'*)'
@@ -742,14 +741,6 @@ orcli_batch_command() {
   # src/batch_command.sh
   # shellcheck shell=bash disable=SC2154 source=/dev/null
 
-  # check if stdin is present if selected
-  if ! [[ ${args[--interactive]} ]]; then
-      if [[ ${args[file]} == '-' ]] || [[ ${args[file]} == '"-"' ]] && [ -t 0 ]; then
-          orcli_batch_usage
-          exit 1
-      fi
-  fi
-
   # catch args, convert the space delimited string to an array
   files=()
   eval "files=(${args[file]})"
@@ -794,19 +785,32 @@ orcli_batch_command() {
       log "started OpenRefine" "port: ${args[--port]}" "memory: ${args[--memory]}" "tmpdir: ${tmpdir}" "pid: ${openrefine_pid}"
   fi
 
-  # execute shell script
+  # execute script(s) in subshell
   export orcli tmpdir OPENREFINE_URL openrefine_pid
-  if [[ ${args[--interactive]} ]]; then
+  # case 1: interactive mode if stdin is selected but not present
+  if [[ ${args[file]} == '-' || ${args[file]} == '"-"' ]]; then
+      if ! read -u 0 -t 0; then
+          bash --rcfile <(
+              cat ~/.bashrc
+              interactive
+          ) -i < /dev/tty
+          exit
+      fi
+  fi
+  # case 2: execute scripts and keep shell running
+  if [[ ${args[--debug]} ]]; then
       bash --rcfile <(
           cat ~/.bashrc
+          for i in "${!files[@]}"; do log "execute script ${files[$i]}"; awk 1 "${files[$i]}"; done
           interactive
-          if ! [[ ${args[file]} == '-' || ${args[file]} == '"-"' ]]; then
-              awk 1 "${files[@]}"
-          fi
-      ) -i
-  else
-      bash -e <(awk 1 "${files[@]}")
+      ) -i < /dev/tty
+      exit
   fi
+  # case 3: execute scripts
+  for i in "${!files[@]}"; do
+      log "execute script ${files[$i]}"
+      bash -e <(awk 1 "${files[$i]}")
+  done
 
 }
 
@@ -819,9 +823,11 @@ orcli_import_csv_command() {
   init_import
 
   # check if stdin is present if selected
-  if [[ ${args[file]} == '-' ]] || [[ ${args[file]} == '"-"' ]] && [ -t 0 ]; then
-      orcli_import_csv_usage
-      exit 1
+  if [[ ${args[file]} == '-' ]] || [[ ${args[file]} == '"-"' ]]; then
+      if ! read -u 0 -t 0; then
+          orcli_import_csv_usage
+          exit 1
+      fi
   fi
 
   # assemble specific post data (some options require json format)
@@ -1122,10 +1128,10 @@ orcli_batch_parse_requirements() {
       ;;
 
     # :flag.case
-    --interactive )
+    --debug )
 
       # :flag.case_no_arg
-      args[--interactive]=1
+      args[--debug]=1
       shift
       ;;
 
diff --git a/src/bashly.yml b/src/bashly.yml
index 357cecd..8f30e15 100644
--- a/src/bashly.yml
+++ b/src/bashly.yml
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ commands:
       Usage: eval "\$(orcli completions)"
 
   - name: batch
-    help: run tmp OpenRefine workspace and execute shell script
+    help: run tmp OpenRefine workspace and execute shell script(s)
     args:
       - name: file
         help: Path to one or more files. When FILE is -, read standard input.
@@ -52,10 +52,9 @@ commands:
         help: PORT on which OpenRefine should listen
         arg: port
         default: "3333"
-      - long: --interactive
-        help: provide interactive Bash shell for playground and debugging
+      - long: --debug
+        help: do not exit on error and keep shell open
     examples:
-      - orcli batch --interactive
       - |-
         orcli batch << EOF
           orcli import csv "https://git.io/fj5hF" --projectName "duplicates"
diff --git a/src/batch_command.sh b/src/batch_command.sh
index e966f14..7be5651 100644
--- a/src/batch_command.sh
+++ b/src/batch_command.sh
@@ -1,13 +1,5 @@
 # shellcheck shell=bash disable=SC2154 source=/dev/null
 
-# check if stdin is present if selected
-if ! [[ ${args[--interactive]} ]]; then
-    if [[ ${args[file]} == '-' ]] || [[ ${args[file]} == '"-"' ]] && [ -t 0 ]; then
-        orcli_batch_usage
-        exit 1
-    fi
-fi
-
 # catch args, convert the space delimited string to an array
 files=()
 eval "files=(${args[file]})"
@@ -52,16 +44,29 @@ else
     log "started OpenRefine" "port: ${args[--port]}" "memory: ${args[--memory]}" "tmpdir: ${tmpdir}" "pid: ${openrefine_pid}"
 fi
 
-# execute shell script
+# execute script(s) in subshell
 export orcli tmpdir OPENREFINE_URL openrefine_pid
-if [[ ${args[--interactive]} ]]; then
+# case 1: interactive mode if stdin is selected but not present
+if [[ ${args[file]} == '-' || ${args[file]} == '"-"' ]]; then
+    if ! read -u 0 -t 0; then
+        bash --rcfile <(
+            cat ~/.bashrc
+            interactive
+        ) -i < /dev/tty
+        exit
+    fi
+fi
+# case 2: execute scripts and keep shell running
+if [[ ${args[--debug]} ]]; then
     bash --rcfile <(
         cat ~/.bashrc
+        for i in "${!files[@]}"; do log "execute script ${files[$i]}"; awk 1 "${files[$i]}"; done
         interactive
-        if ! [[ ${args[file]} == '-' || ${args[file]} == '"-"' ]]; then
-            awk 1 "${files[@]}"
-        fi
-    ) -i
-else
-    bash -e <(awk 1 "${files[@]}")
+    ) -i < /dev/tty
+    exit
 fi
+# case 3: execute scripts
+for i in "${!files[@]}"; do
+    log "execute script ${files[$i]}"
+    bash -e <(awk 1 "${files[$i]}")
+done
diff --git a/src/import_csv_command.sh b/src/import_csv_command.sh
index 53fbc4a..a2bf97f 100644
--- a/src/import_csv_command.sh
+++ b/src/import_csv_command.sh
@@ -4,9 +4,11 @@
 init_import
 
 # check if stdin is present if selected
-if [[ ${args[file]} == '-' ]] || [[ ${args[file]} == '"-"' ]] && [ -t 0 ]; then
-    orcli_import_csv_usage
-    exit 1
+if [[ ${args[file]} == '-' ]] || [[ ${args[file]} == '"-"' ]]; then
+    if ! read -u 0 -t 0; then
+        orcli_import_csv_usage
+        exit 1
+    fi
 fi
 
 # assemble specific post data (some options require json format)
diff --git a/src/lib/send_completions.sh b/src/lib/send_completions.sh
index 32485a5..eb72a5a 100644
--- a/src/lib/send_completions.sh
+++ b/src/lib/send_completions.sh
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ send_completions() {
   echo $'      ;;'
   echo $''
   echo $'    \'batch\'*)'
-  echo $'      while read -r; do COMPREPLY+=( "$REPLY" ); done < <( compgen -W "$(_orcli_completions_filter "--help --interactive --memory --port -h")" -- "$cur" )'
+  echo $'      while read -r; do COMPREPLY+=( "$REPLY" ); done < <( compgen -W "$(_orcli_completions_filter "--debug --help --memory --port -h")" -- "$cur" )'
   echo $'      ;;'
   echo $''
   echo $'    \'list\'*)'