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DOS FAMILIARIZATION
contents or the file's application. Examples of
THE DOS PROMPT C:\> some filenames are shown below:
README.TXT ME.EXE
When the DOS prompt appears like this, LICENSE.DOCAUTOEXEC.BAT
C:\>, on your screen, it has been configured COMMAND.COMUNITDATA.BAK
to display the current drive and directory. As CONST_Q.SRC WP.BAT
shown above, this DOS prompt indicates that
you are at the top–level, or root, directory of Generally, files which have a file extension of
the C: drive. .EXE or .COM are files that contain
programs. Files with a file extension of .SYS
A DOS prompt like this are files which contain information about
F:\UNIT1\PROM> computer hardware. Files with a .BAT
indicates that you are in the PROM extension are files which contain a DOS
subdirectory of the UNIT1 directory of the F: command or list of commands which can be
drive. executed easily. Files with a .TXT or .DOC
extension are generally ASCII text files
Directories and Structures which can be viewed and/or printed and
contain useful information. When specifying
A directory can contain files and a file or files at the DOS prompt, case is
subdirectories which can contain more files. unimportant.
Directory and/or subdirectory names are
limited to eight characters. (Certain Viewing a File's Contents
characters are invalid; refer to a DOS manual
for more information.) When changing or A file's contents can be viewed on the CRT
specifying directories and/or subdirectories by using the TYPE command at the DOS
when issuing DOS commands, case is prompt (case is unimportant). For example,
unimportant. typing the following command at the DOS
prompt
Files, Filenames and Filename Extensions TYPE C:\README.TXT
would cause the contents of the file
Files can contain many types of information README.TXT to be displayed on the CRT.
stored in many types of formats (binary, If the file contains more information than can
HEX, ASCII, etc.). Filenames are limited to be displayed on one screen, the file contents
eight characters. Files generally have (and will scroll uncontrolled to the end of the file.
should have) filename extensions. Filename To view the file's contents one screen at a
extensions, or file extensions, are limited to time, typing the following command:
three characters (refer to a DOS manual for a
list of valid and invalid characters) and are TYPE README.TXT|MORE
separated from the filename by a period. would display the contents of the file
Together, filenames and extensions are README.TXT one screen at a time, waiting
generally a clue to either the format of the file
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for the viewer to press any key to display the F: changes to the current directory of drive F.
next screen until the end of the file is reached.
If the LIST utility program is available on the Viewing the Contents of a Directory or
<I>, you can use the LIST command at the Subdirectory
DOS prompt (case is unimportant). Typing
the following command at the DOS prompt: To view the entire contents of a directory or
subdirectory, use the DIR command at the
LIST README.TXT DOS prompt (case is unimportant).
would cause the contents of the file DIR views the entire contents of the current
README.TXT to be displayed on the screen. directory or subdirectory on the current drive.
You can scroll through the file using the Page
Up/Page Down keys. DIR F:\UNIT1\PROM views the entire
contents of the subdirectory PROM of the
If you simply type LIST at the DOS prompt directory UNIT1 on the F: drive from the
with no filename, all the filenames in the current drive and directory/subdirectory.
current drive/directory/subdirectory will be
listed. You can view a file by using the cursor If the number of files and subdirectories in a
keys to highlight the filename and then directory being viewed with the DIR
pressing ENTER. command exceeds the space available on the
screen, one or both of two “switches" may be
Changing Directories used, /W or /P.
DIR F: \UNIT1\PROM /P views the entire
To change from one directory or subdirectory contents of the subdirectory PROM of the
to another directory or subdirectory on the directory UNIT1 on the F: drive one screenful
same drive, use the CD command at the DOS at a time.
prompt (case is unimportant). DIR F:\UNIT1\PROM /W views the entire
CD UNIT1\PROM changes to the contents of the subdirectory PROM of the
subdirectory PROM of the directory UNIT1 directory UNIT1 on the F: drive in an
of the current drive from the root directory. abbreviated format across the width of the
CD \UNIT1\PROM changes to the screen.
subdirectroy PROM of the directory UNIT1
of the current drive from any directory. Searching a Directory or Subdirectory for
a File
CD PROM changes to the
directory\subdirectory PROM from the A directory and/or subdirectory can be
current directory. searched for a particular file with the DIR
command (case is unimportant).
Changing Drives
DIR UNITDATA.DAT checks the current
To change to another drive from the current directory/subdirectory on the current drive for
drive, type the letter of the drive you wish to the file UNITDATA.DAT.
change to be followed immediately by a DIR F:\UNIT1\UNITDATA.DAT checks the
colon (case is unimportant). directory UNIT1 on F: drive for the file
UNITDATA.DAT.
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Making or Creating a Directory or the UNIT1 directory of F: drive to the
Subdirectory BACKUP directory of A: drive.
Files can be renamed during a COPY.
To make or create a directory or subdirectory,
use the MD command at the DOS prompt COPY UNITDATA.DAT A:\*.BAK copies
(case is unimportant). the file UNITDATA.DAT from the current
drive/directory/subdirectory to the current
MD PATSY creates a directory/subdirectory directory/subdirectory on A: drive with the
named PATSY on the current drive. same filename but with a .BAK extension
MD F:\UNIT1\PATSY creates a subdirectory (UNITDATA.BAK).
named PATSY in the UNIT1 directory on the
F: drive. Renaming a File
Removing or Deleting a Directory or To rename a file, use the REN command at
Subdirectory the DOS prompt (case is unimportant).
REN README.TXT USELESS.STF
To remove or delete a directory or renames the README.TXT in the current
subdirectory, use the RD command at the drive/directory/subdirectory to
DOS prompt (case is unimportant). A USELESS.STF.
directory or subdirectory must be empty
(cannot contain files or subdirectories) before REN F:\USER\SCREEN.IMG
it can be deleted. MAINMENU.* renames the file
SCREEN.IMG in the USER directory of the
RD PATSY removes the directory or F: drive to MAINMENU.IMG in the same
subdirectory named PATSY from the current drive and directory.
drive/directory/subdirectory.
A file can also be renamed using the COPY
RD F:\UNIT1\PATSY removes the directory command at the DOS prompt (case is
or subdirectory named PATSY from the unimportant).
UNIT1 directory of F: drive.
COPY*.DAT*.BAK makes new files with a
Copying a File .BAK extension in the current
drive/directory/subdirectory from all files
To copy a file from one with a .DAT extension. The original .DAT
drive/directory/subdirectory to another files will be left intact in the current
drive/directory/subdirectory, use the COPY directory.
command at the DOS prompt (case is COPY UNITDATA.DAT A:\*.BAK copies
unimportant). the file UNITDATA.DAT from the current
COPY UNITDATA.DAT A: copies the file drive/directory/subdirectory to the current
UNITDATA.DAT from the current directory/subdirectory on A: drive with the
drive/directory/subdirectory to the current same filename but with a .BAK extension
directory/subdirectory of A: drive.
COPY?F:?\UNIT1\UNITDATA.DAT?A:\BA
CKUP copies the file UNITDATA.DAT from
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Deleting a File The DOS Path
(This is probably the most dangerous DOS The DOS command/statement PATH (usually
command. It is good practice only to delete found in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file) specifies
files from within the current where to look for the filename which has
directory/subdirectory.) To delete a file, use been typed at the DOS prompt in order to
the DEL command at the DOS prompt (case execute the instructions or program contained
is unimportant). in the file.
DEL ALARM.* deletes all files with the PATH C:;C:\DOS;G:\EXEC tells DOS to
filename ALARM from the current search the root directory of the C: drive, then
drive/directory/subdirectory. the DOS directory on the C: drive, and then
DEL F:\USER\*.IMG deletes all files with a the EXEC directory of the G: drive for the
.IMG extension from the USER directory of filename which was entered at the DOS
F: drive. prompt/command line and execute the
program or instructions if the file is found.
DEL *.* deletes all files from the current
drive/directory/subdirectory. You will be Programs/instructions can be executed or run
prompted with a query to ensure you wish to from any drive/directory/subdirectory when
continue. the location of the executable or batch file is
specified in the PATH statement or by using
DEL F:\USER deletes all the files from the the PATH command at the DOS prompt.
USER directory of F: drive. You will be
prompted with a query to ensure you wish to For example, if you are in the F:\UNIT1
continue. directory and you wish to run the program
MK5MAKE.BAT located in the G:\EXEC
Undeleting a File directory, you need only type the filename
MK5MAKE. DOS first searches the current
MS–DOS 5.0 contains a command to drive/directory/subdirectory for the file
undelete files which have been MK5MAKE, then it searches the root
unintentionally deleted. A file can be directory of C:, then the DOS directory of C:
undeleted only if it is undeleted immediately drive and then the EXEC directory of G:
after being deleted or no files have been drive. Finding the file in G:\EXEC, it would
created or modified since the file was deleted. be executed.
To undelete a file, use the UNDELETE The total number of characters in the PATH
command at the DOS prompt (case in statement cannot exceed 128. For this reason,
unimportant). if you have many different programs in many
UNDELETE restores all files which can be different directories on various drives which
recovered from the current you wish to execute from any
drive/directory/subdirectory. drive/directory/subdirectory, it becomes
advantageous to use batch files to execute the
For more information on the UNDELETE programs when the batch files are stored in a
command, refer to the MS–DOS manual location specified in the PATH statement.
provided with the <I> computer.
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Setting the Time DOS COMMANDS
To set the time on the computer, use the Typing a DOS command followed by a /?
TIME command at the DOS prompt (case is will usually give a brief help.
unimportant). Typing TIME at the DOS DIR
prompt will present you with the following
Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a
message:
directory.
Current time is 11:18:39.39p
DIR [drive:][path][filename] [/P] [/W] [/A[[:]
Enter new time:
attributes]] [/O[[:]sortorder]] [/S] [/B] [/L]
If the time displayed is the current time, just
[drive:][path][filename]
press ENTER and the time will not be
Specifies drive, directory, and/or files
changed. If, however, the time must be
to list.
changed, you can enter the new time in either
24-hour format or 12-hour format with the /P Pauses after each screenful of
suffix “a" or “p" for am or pm, respectively. information.
It is not necessary to enter in the seconds or /W Uses wide list format
hundredths of seconds when changing the
time. /A Displays files with specified
attributes.
Setting the Date attributes: D Directories
R Read–only files
To change the date on the computer, use the H Hidden files
DATE command at the DOS prompt (case in A Files ready for
unimportant). Typing DATE at the DOS archiving
prompt will present you with the following S System files
message: – Prefix meaning not
Current date is Sun 01-26-1993 /O List by files in sorted order.
Enter new date (mm-dd-yy): sortorder N By name (alphabetic)
S By size (smallest first)
If the date displayed is correct, just press E By extension
ENTER and the date will not be changed. If, (alphabetic)
however, the date must be changed, you can D By date and time
enter the new date in the format specified in (earliest first)
the message and then press ENTER to change G Group directories first
to the new date. – prefix to reverse order
/S Displays files in specified directory
and all subdirectories.
/B Uses bare format (no heading
information or summary).
/L Uses lowercase.
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CD Search: ALT, S, F, [enter the string
Changes the default directory. Switches may name in the requestor box]
be preset in the DIRCMD environment Search and
variable. Override preset switches by Replace: ALT, S, C, [enter the
prefixing any switch with – (hyphen) - for search string, hit TAB, enter the
example, /–W displays the name of or re– place string]
changes the current directory. Help: F1 [function key]
CD [drive:][path] Q EDIT KEYSTROKES
CD.. Specifies that you want to change to Q EDIT is used by the Animator Displays as
the parent directory. its small size is ideal for the memory
CD\ Specifies that you want to change to limitations brought on by the Animator. To
the root directory. run it, type:
Type CD drive: to display the current QEDIT [filename]
directory in the specified drive. Typical commands used are:
Type CD without parameters to display the Save file: [esc], F, S, [hit the enter
current drive and directory. key], or ALT+X
HELP Save file and exit: [esc], Q, E, [hit the enter
Provides help information for MS–DOS key], or ALT+X, Y
commands. Open file: [esc], F, L, [enter the file
HELP [command] name in the requestor box]
command - displays help information on that Search: [esc], S, F, [enter the string
command. name in the requestor box]
C: or F: Search and Replace: [esc], S, C, [enter the
search string, hit TAB, enter the
changes the default drive to C: or F:
re– place string]
DOS EDIT KEYSTROKES
Help: F1 [function key]
DOS EDIT is the editor typically used for
creating and modifying configurable files on
the <I>. To run it, type:
EDIT [filename]
Typical commands used are:
Save file: ALT, F, S, [hit the enter
key]
Save file and exit: ALT, F, X, [hit the enter
key]
Open file: ALT, F, O, [enter the file
name in the requestor box]
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