Instant paths in Windows NT 4.0
Instant paths in Windows NT 4.0
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Tip Long file and folder names can make typing more tedious than ever if you are still using a command prompt. Fortunately, Windows NT 4.0 will do most of the typing chores for you. You just have to turn this feature on, which requires a little editing of the Registry. Fooling around with the Registry can cause big problems, so make sure you've already created an NT emergency repair disk; it can fix Registry problems if you goof up. If you don't have the repair disk, choose File--Run in Program Manager or File Manager, type rdisk, and press <Enter>. Use this utility to create a repair disk before proceeding. Now choose Start--Run, type regedit, and press <Enter> to get into the Registry. Climb down the tree to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft. In the Microsoft folder, look for a folder called Command Processor. (If you don't see it, right-click Microsoft in the tree pane and choose New--Key. Next, type Command Processor and press <Enter>.) Select the Command Processor folder in the tree pane. In the right pane, look for an icon labeled CompletionChar. If you don't see it, right-click in the right pane and choose New--DWORD Value. Then type CompletionChar and press <Enter>. Double-click the CompletionChar icon. Type 9 in the Value data box and press <Enter> or click OK. Next, in the same pane, look for an icon labeled EnableExtensions. (If you don't see it, right-click in the right pane and select New--DWORD Value. Type EnableExtensions and press <Enter>.) Double-click the EnableExtensions icon. Type 1 in the Value data box and press <Enter> or click OK. Then exit the Registry Editor. The rest is easy. The next time you're in a command prompt window, just type your command plus the first letter or two of a file or folder you need. Then press <Tab> to have NT type out the first file or folder that begins with those letters. If you don't get what you want, just keep pressing <Tab> until you see the file or folder name you're looking for. For example, if you're at the root of your C: drive, you'd type dir pr and then press <Tab> to see a directory listing of the Program Files folder (or any other folder that begins with pr). - Scott Dunn | Category: Windows NT Issue: Jun 1997 Pages: 160-173 |
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