Locates files outside current dir- APPEND ectory. EXTERNALAPPEND d:path[;[d:]path...] or APPEND [/X][/E] Example: APPEND c:\dbfiles /X Processes SEARCH FIRST, FIND FIRST and EXEC functions. Must issue APPEND; before using BACKUP or RESTORE. /E Keeps APPEND paths in the DOS environment. Applies to all versions of DOS beginning with 3.3. Parameters may be used only on the first invocation of APPEND in each session and each subsequent APPEND command takes the place of the previous one. Routes disk I/O to anothe drive. ASSIGN EXTERNALASSIGN [x[=y[...]] Example: ASSIGN a=c b=c This example would redirect any activity from drive A to drive C and any activity from drive B to drive C. To clear the reassign- ment, type in ASSIGN and press return. Modifies file attributes. ATTRIB EXTERNALATTRIB [[+][-]parms][d:][path]filespec[/params] Example ATTRIB -r myfile.doc /s. +R Set read-only attribute for the file. -R Set read/write attribute for file (normal file). Default state. +A Set archive attribute bit for file. Means file needs to be backed up. -A Cancel archive attribute bit for file. /S Process files in the specified directory and all its sub- directories. Backs up files from one disk to BACKUP another. EXTERNALBACKUP d:[path][filespec] d:[/params] Example: BACKUP c: *.* a:/S/F /A Add files to those already present on backup disk. /D:mm-dd-yy Back up only files modified on or after date specified. Date specified in format consistent with country code. /F Format target disk if it is not already formatted. /L[filespec] Create log file naming disk number of each file back- up. If no name specified uses BACKUP.LOG in root dir. /M Back up only files modified since last backup; archive bit on. /S Back up files in the specified directory and all its sub- directories. /T Backup only files modified on or after time specified. Defines status of control break. BREAK INTERNALBREAK[ON][OFF] Example: BREAK ON To find out if BREAK is on or off, type BREAK and press the return key. Selects code page DOS uses. CHCP INTERNALCHCP [number] Example: CHCP 850 Must execute NLSFUNC first. To display the current code page, type CHCP and press return. Sets or displays current path. CHDIR or CD INTERNALCD\[d:][path] May be abbreviated to CD If you do not indicate a disk drive, the current disk drive is used. When you give a path name, MS-DOS moves from the current di- rectory to the last directory specified in the path. If you want tostart the move with the disk's root directory, use the backslash (\) as the path's first character. Otherwise, MS-DOS assumes that the path starts with the current directory. If you give an inval- id path, DOS displays error message and remains in current dir. Analyzes disk and Functional Alloca- CHKDKS tion Table (FAT) EXTERNALCHKDSK [d:][path][filespec][/params] Example: CHKDSK c:/F /F Fix errors found in directory or FAT. Lost allocation units are stored in files names FILE####.CHK. /V Display all files and paths found on drive. With this switch, you can redirect the output to a file, i.e., CHKDSK/V>TEMP. CHKDSK filespec with no parameters checks for file fragmentation. Clears display screen. CLS INTERNALCLS All information on the screen is cleared and the cursor is placed at the home position. This command affects only the active video display. If you have used the ANSI control codes to set the fore- ground and background, the color settings remain in effect. If you have not set the foreground/background color, the screen reverts to light characters on a dark background. CLS affects only the screen, not memory. Starts a secondary command processor.COMMAND EXTERNALCOMMAND [d:][path][/params] Example: COMMAND c:\ut /p /Cstring Passes string to the new command processor. /E:# Sets size of the environment. Must be in range 160 to 32768 in bytes. /P Makes command processor permanent in memory. Must restart DOS to remove command processor. Unless /P parameter used, command processor is unloaded by typing EXIT. Earlier version (3.0, for example) express this num- ber in paragraphs. Compares contents of files. COMP EXTERNALCOMP [d:][path][filespec][d:][path][filespec] Example: COMP *.BAT A:*.BAT If you do not give a drive name for a set, the current disk drive is used. If you do not give a path for a file set, the current directory for the drive is used. If you do not enter a file name for a file set, all files for that set are compared. Files with matching names but different lengths are not checked. A message is printed indicating that these files are different. After ten mismatches between the contents of two compared files, COMP automatically ends the comparison between the two files and aborts. Copies a file or set of files. COPY INTERNALCOPY [/parms][d:][path]filespec[/params] [d:][path][file spec][/parms] Example: COPY *.* a: /A Treats file as ASCII text. For source file: copies up to first 1AH; for target: adds 1AH to end. /B Treats file as binary file (based on size in directory). For source file: copies entire file; for target: does not add 1AH. /V Turns verify check ON during copy operation. Verify may already be set to ON by DOS Changes standard input (keyboard) andCTTY standard output (monitor) to auxiliary console INTERNALCTTY devicename Example: CTTY COM1 The device should be a character-oriented device capable of both input and output. Programs designed to work with the video dis- play's control codes may not function properly when redirected. CTTY does not affect any other form of redirected I/O or piping (<, > or |). Using CTTY with a normal printer (an output device) is a mis-take. MS-DOS will patiently wait forever for you to type commands on the printer's nonexistent keyboard. Enters, changes or displays date. DATE INTERNALDATE [date] Example: DATE 1-12-90 The delimiters between the day, month and year can be hyphensperiods or slashes. The result displayed will vary, depending on the country code set in the CONFIG.SYS file. Deletes specified file or files. DEL or ERASE INTERNALDEL [d:][path]filespec or ERASE [d:][path]filespec Example: DEL A:\wp\*.bak List directory entries. DIR INTERNALDIR [d:][path][filespec][/params] Example: DIR c:\wp\*.bak/W/P /P Pause when screen is full. General 23 lines; any key displays next page of directory. /W Display names only in wide format; no files size, date or time displayed. Compares contents of two disks. DISKCOMP EXTERNALDISKCOMP [d: [d:][/params] Example: DISKCOMP a: b: /1 Compare only first side of disk. /8 Compare only first 8 sectors/track. Applies even if disk is formatted 9 sectors/track. When you are using one disk drive, DOS prompts you to change disks.Only compatible disketts should be compared. The two disks must be formatted with the same number of tracks, sectors and sides. Copies an entire disk. DISKCOPY EXTERNALDISKCOPY [d:] [d:][/params] Example: DISKCOPY a: b: /1 Copy only first side of disk. If you are using a single floppy system, DOS will prompt you to change disks. Stores location of opened files in FASTOPEN memory. EXTERNALFASTOPEN d:[=number] Example: FASTOPEN c:=100 [=number] can be from 10 to 999. This is a good command to place in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. It will increase your file access speed. Creates, changes or displays DOS FDISK partitions. EXTERNALFDISK Example: FDISK This command is normally used to configure a hard drive for use with MS-DOS. The FDISK command displays a series of menus to help you partition your hard disk for MS-DOS. FDISK does not work on drives used in the SUBST or JOIN commands. This command is also used quite often to reconfigure a hard drive that has malfunctionedin some manner. An indepth discussion is not part of the scope of DBDOS. Refer to your DOS manual for more detailed instructions. Finds lines in files with matching FIND string. EXTERNALFIND [/params] "string" [[d:][path]filespec...] Example: FIND /N "Tom" c:\wp\file.dat /C Display number of lines containing "string" /N Display relative line number of each match. Ignored if /C is also specified. /V Display all lines NOT containing "string" FIND is case sensitive. FIND "TOM" c:\wp\file.dat is dif- ferent than FIND "tom" c:\wp\file.dat. Formats a disk for use. FORMAT EXTERNALFORMAT d:[/params] Example: FORMAT a:/S /1 Format disk for single-sided use. Only for 5.25" disks. /4 Format 360K disk in 1.2MB drive. Disk reliable only for use with 1.2MB drives. /8 Format 8 sectors per track. Only for floppy drives. /B Format 8 sectors/track, space for DOS. /N:# Format # sectors/track. Must be used with /T /S Copy operating system files to formatted disk. Bootable disk. /T:# Format # tracks on disk; Must be used with /N /V Request volume name for disk after format. Loads additional character data into GRAFTABL memory EXTERNALGRAFTABL [437][860][863][865]/STATUS Example: GRAFTABL 437 437 Use United States character data. Default value. 860 Use Portugal character data. 863 Use French Canadian character data. 865 Use Norwegian and Danish character data. /STATUS Display number of selected codepage. Codepage is the three-digit number of the code page for the display. Sets system to print graphic displaysGRAPHICS EXTERNALGRAPHICS [printer][/params] Example: GRAPHICS COLOR1 /R PRINTERTYPE Specifies type of printer being used. COLOR1=IBM Color printer black ribbon, uses four shades gray; COLOR4=IBM Color printer RGB ribbon, prints red, green, blue, blackCOLOR8=IBM Color printer CMY ribbon prints using black,cyan,mag,yelCOMPACT=IBM Compact printer prints black & white GRAPHICS=IBM Graphics or Proptr prints black & white THERMAL=IBM Convertible printer prints black and white /B Print background color. Applicable COLOR4 & COLOR8 /LCD Print as displayed on LCD display. IBM convertible only. /R Print as displayed on monitor. White pixels black, no black pix.Produces a single directory structureJOIN by connecting a disk drive to a subdirectory of a second disk drive. EXTERNALJOIN d: d: \directory or JOIN d: /D Example: JOIN b:/d /D Disconnects the specified guest disk drive from its host. The disk drive being connected is called the guest disk drive. The disk drive and the subdirectory to which the guest disk drive is connected are the host disk drive and the host subdirectory. Changes the keyboard layout and KEYB characters to one of five non-American-Englishlanguages. EXTERNALKEYB[xx[,[yyy],[[d:][path]filespec]]] Example: KEYBUK FR France GR Germany IT Italy SP Spain UK United Kingdom Creates, changes or displays volume LABEL label. EXTERNALLABEL [d:][label] Example: LABEL c:wp Creates subdirectory. MKDIR or MD INTERNALMKDIR [d:]path or MD [d:]path Example: MD c:\ss\excel\data Sets printer specifications. MODE LPT# EXTERNALMODE LPT#[:][n][,m][,p] Example: MODE lpt1:132,8,p n Set page print width. Must be 80 or 132 only (default=80) m Set vertical spacing. Must be 6 or 8 only (default=6) p Set continuous retry on time-out errors. More Examples: MODE LPT1:132,8,P Sets 132 column page width, 8 lines per inch and continuous retry. MODE LPT2:,,P Leaves page width and lines per inch intact, sets continuous retry. Sets video display mode. MODE n EXTERNALMODE n Examples: MODE CO40; MODE CO80,R,T; MODE,L,T 40 Set display width to 40 chars CGA,PCJr and EGA 80 Set display width to 80 chars CGA,PCJr and EGA (default) BW40 Set display width 40 chars on CGA;disable color CGA,PCJr,EGA BW80 Set display width 80 chars on CGA;disable colro CGA,PCJr,EGA CO40 Set display width 40 chars on CGA;enable color CGA,PCJr EGA CO80 Set display width 80 chars on CGA;enable color CGA,PCJr,EGA MONO Set display to MDA R Shift display slightly to right CGA,PCJr,EGA L Shift display slightly to left CGA,PCJr,EGA Sets serial port specifications. MODE COM# EXTERNALMODE COM#[:]baud[,[parity][,[databits][,[stopbits][,P]]]] Examples: MODE COM1:1200,e,7,1,p ; MODE COM1:,7,p baud Set baud rate for comm. Must be 110,150,300,600,1200,2400,4800 9600 or 19200; default=1200 parity Set parity type for transmissions. Must be one of N(none), O(odd),or E(even); default=E databits Set number of databits per byte transmitted. Must be either 7 or 8; default=7 stopbits Set number of bits between transmitted bytes. Must be either 1 or 2; default=110, 1 for all other baud P Set continuous retry on time-out errors. Redirects parallel printer output. MODE LPT# EXTERNALMODE LPT#[:]=COM# Examples: MODE lpt1:=com1 ; Redirects printer output to COM1. Displays one screen of information MORE from the standard input device and pauses while displaying the message - MORE -. EXTERNALMORE<screen.doc or TYPE myfile.dat|MORE You can also direct the MORE through more than one pipe, i.e., DIR|SORT|MORE Provides extended country support. NLSFUNC EXTERNALNLSFUNC c:\ut\country.sys In MS-DOS V3.3, the information holding the country informa- tion is COUNTRY.SYS. Tells MS-DOS to search the specified PATH directories on the specified drives if a pro- gram or batch file not found in current dir. INTERNALPATH [[d:]path[[;d:]path]]] Example: PATH c:\;c:\wp;c:\dos It is always wise to have a path set in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file to your root directory and your directory where all DOS commands are stored, i.e., PATH c:\;c:\dos. Puts selected files in print queue. PRINT EXTERNALPRINT [/params][[d:][path][filespec]...] Example: PRINT c:*.asm /B:buffersize-Sets size of internal print buffer to buffersize, in bytes. Default is 512. /C-Cancels list of files from print queue. /D:device-Specifies print device to use. Default is PRN; if used must be first parameter. /M:matick-Sets number of clock ticks printdevice gets. Default is 2;range is from 1-255. /P-Sets print mode. /Q:queuesize-Sets number of files that can be in queue at once. Default is 10;range 1-32. /S:timeslice-Specifies time slice value, Default 8;range 1-255. /T-Cancels all queued files;printing stops. Sounds printer alarm;prints cancellation message. /U:busytick-Sets number of ticks to wait for print availability. Sets new DOS prompt. PROMPT INTERNALPROMPT [prompt] Example: PROMPT $p$g. $b-Vertical slash |;$d-Current date;$e escapecharacter;$g-Greater than sign >;$h-Destructive backspace;$l-Less than sign <;$n-Current drive letter;$p-Current pathname directory; $q-Equals sign =;$t-Current system time;$v-DOS version number; $_-Carriage return/line feed;$$-Dollar sign ($);Any other charactertreated as character typed. Applies to all versions of DOS begin- ning with version 2.0. Recovers files from defective disk. RECOVER EXTERNALRECOVER [d:][path]filespec or RECOVER d: Example RECOVER c: Wildcards are allowed but only the first file that matches the wild card file name is RECOVERed. Renames a file. RENAME or REN INTERNALRENAME b:myfile.dat yourfile.doc Selectively replaces matching files REPLACE with matching names from one disk to another. Selectively adds files from disk to disk. EXTERNALREPLACE [d:][path]filespec [d:][path][/params] Example: REPLACE a:*.DOC c: /S/P /A Copies all files in source that do not exist on target. Cannot be used with /S. /P Prompts when source file also found on target. Copy produces only if user presses Y. /R Replaces files that have read-only attribute bit set on target. /S Searches all directories of target for source file match. Cannot be used with /A. /W Prompts for disk change before REPLACE continues. REPLACE added to DOS beginning with Version 3.0. Restores backed up files to disk. RESTORE EXTERNALRESTORE d: [d:][path]filespec[/params] Example: RESTORE a: c:\*.* /s /A:mm-dd-yy Restores files modified on or after date mm-dd-yy. /B:mm-dd-yy Restores files modified on or before date mm-dd-yy. /E:hh:mm Restores files modified on or before time hh:mm. /L:hh:mm Restores files modified on or after time hh:mm. /M Restores files modified or deleted since last backup. /N Restores files that no longer exist on target. Should not be used with /B or /A. /P Prompt for each file to restore. /S Restores files to proper subdirectories. RESTORE added to DOS beginning with Version 2.0. Deletes a subdirectory from disk. RD or RMDIR INTERNALRD [d:]path or RMDIR [d:]path Example: RD c:\lotus\123 Rules: Cannot be in a subdirectory you are deleting. Directory must be empty of all files before removing. Error message will appear on screen if either of these occurs. Installs DOS on new disk. SELECT EXTERNALSELECT [[A:[B:][d:][path] xxx yy Example: SELECT a:001 Installs string with value in SET environment. INTERNALSET [name=[value]] Example: SET sidekick=YES The environment is an area in RAM memory reserved for alphanumeric information that may be examined and used by MS-DOS commands or user programs. For example, the environment usually contains COM- SPEC, the location of COMMAND.COM; PATH, the additional paths for finding programs and batch files; and PROMPT, the string defining the MS-DOS system prompt. Loads file sharing support. SHARE EXTERNALSHARE [/params] Example: SHARE /F:4048 /F:filespace Allocates filespace bytes to record sharing info. Default is 2048; must be 25 bytes per shared file. /L:locks Allocates space for number of locks to maintain. Default is 20. SHARE affects two or more programs running on the same computer, not two or more computers using the same file (networked computers) SHARE added to DOS beginning with version 3.1. Sorts data read from standard in SORT sends to standard out. EXTERNALSORT [/params] Example: dir|SORT/+14 /R Sort in reverse order (Z before A) /+# Sort starting with column # specified. Default is column 1. Sets up different drive specifier forSUBST drive or path. Used principally with programs that do not use path names. EXTERNALSUBST d: d:path or SUBST d: /D or SUBST Example: SUBST a: c:\wp\ws Copies DOS onto a disk. SYS INTERNALSYS d: Example: SYS a: The target must be formatted with the /S option. Sets, changes or displays time. TIME INTERNALTIME [time] Example: TIME 15:10 Depending on the setting of the country code in your CONFIG. SYS file, a comma may be the separator between seconds and hun- dredths of seconds. Displays directory paths. TREE EXTERNALTREE [d:][/F] Example: TREE c:/f You can also redirect the TREE command into a file for easierdisplay, i.e., TREE/F>myfile.dat. Displays contents of file on standardTYPE output. INTERNALTYPE [d:][path]filespec Example: TYPE autoexec.bat You can also redirect the TYPE command to a printer, i.e., TYPE autoexec.bat>prn Displays DOS version number VER INTERNALVER The VER command shows the one digit version number followed by a two digit revision number. You can determine which DOS version (V2.0 through V3.31 or later) the computer is using. Sets the computer to check the accur-VERIFY acy of data written to the disk(s) to ensure that information is properly recorded. INTERNALVERIFY [ON][OFF] Example: VERIFY OFF You are wise to turn VERIFY on when you are backing up your hard disks or making important copies on the disks. Displays volume label. VOL INTERNALVOL [d:] Example: VOL c: If you do not give a disk drive name, the current disk drive is used. Selectively copies groups of files toXCOPY disk. EXTERNALXCOPY [d:][path]filespec [d:][path][filespec][/params] Example: XCOPY *.dat c:/E/S /A Copy only files that have archive bit set. Source file archive bit is not changed. /D:mm-dd-yy Copy files whose date is the same or later than specified. /E Create subdirectories even if empty on target. /M Copy only files that have archive bit set. Source file is cleared. /P Prompt before copying each file. Only files which are responded to by a Y by user are copied. /S Copy files in dir- ectory and all its subdirectories. /V Verifies that target disk was recorded correctly. /W Causes XCOPY to wait until user presses key to start copying. XCOPY added to DOS beginning with Version 3.2.
