While updating my "Tailoring AutoCAD 2010" ebook, I thought I would add a paragraph on accessing DOS commands in Windows:
You can still run DOS commands in Windows, even in 7: from the Start menu, choose Run, and then enter cmd. Notice the window that appears; you can now enter DOS commands. For a list of DOS commands available on your computer, enter help. To copy and paste text, right-click the window, and then select an option from the shortcut menu. To exit DOS mode, enter exit.
Here is the list displayed by Help in VIsta; I've boldfaced the ones that get used the most:
ASSOC -- Displays or modifies file extension associations.
ATTRIB -- Displays or changes file attributes.BREAK -- Sets or clears extended CTRL+C checking.
BCDEDIT -- Sets properties in boot database to control boot loading.
CACLS -- Displays or modifies access control lists (ACLs) of files.
CALL -- Calls one batch program from another.
CD -- Displays the name of or changes the current directory.CHCP -- Displays or sets the active code page number.
CHDIR -- Displays the name of or changes the current directory.
CHKDSK -- Checks a disk and displays a status report.
CHKNTFS -- Displays or modifies the checking of disk at boot time.
CLS -- Clears the screen.CMD -- Starts a new instance of the Windows command interpreter.
COLOR -- Sets the default console foreground and background colors.
COMP -- Compares the contents of two files or sets of files.
COMPACT -- Displays or alters the compression of files on NTFS partitions.
CONVERT -- Converts FAT volumes to NTFS. You cannot convert the current drive.
COPY -- Copies one or more files to another location.DATE -- Displays or sets the date.
DEL -- Deletes one or more files.DIR -- Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory.DISKCOMP -- Compares the contents of two floppy disks.
DISKCOPY -- Copies the contents of one floppy disk to another.
DISKPART -- Displays or configures Disk Partition properties.
DOSKEY -- Edits command lines, recalls Windows commands, and creates macros.
DRIVERQUERY -- Displays current device driver status and properties.
ECHO -- Displays messages, or turns command echoing on or off.
ENDLOCAL -- Ends localization of environment changes in a batch file.
ERASE -- Deletes one or more files.
EXIT -- Quits the CMD.EXE program (command interpreter).
FC -- Compares two files or sets of files, and displays the differences between them.
FIND -- Searches for a text string in a file or files.FINDSTR -- Searches for strings in files.
FOR -- Runs a specified command for each file in a set of files.
FORMAT -- Formats a disk for use with Windows.
FSUTIL -- Displays or configures the file system properties.
FTYPE -- Displays or modifies file types used in file extension associations.
GOTO -- Directs the Windows command interpreter to a labeled line in a batch program.
GPRESULT -- Displays Group Policy information for machine or user.
GRAFTABL -- Enables Windows to display an extended character set in graphics mode.
HELP -- Provides Help information for Windows commands.
ICACLS -- Display, modify, backup, or restore ACLs for files and directories.
IF -- Performs conditional processing in batch programs.
LABEL -- Creates, changes, or deletes the volume label of a disk.
MD -- Creates a directory.MKDIR -- Creates a directory.
MKLINK -- Creates Symbolic Links and Hard Links
MODE -- Configures a system device.
MORE -- Displays output one screen at a time.
MOVE -- Moves one or more files from one directory to another directory.
OPENFILES -- Displays files opened by remote users for a file share.
PATH -- Displays or sets a search path for executable files.
PAUSE -- Suspends processing of a batch file and displays a message.
POPD -- Restores the previous value of the current directory saved by PUSHD.
PRINT -- Prints a text file.PROMPT -- Changes the Windows command prompt.
PUSHD -- Saves the current directory then changes it.
RD -- Removes a directory.RECOVER -- Recovers readable information from a bad or defective disk.
REM -- Records comments (remarks) in batch files or CONFIG.SYS.
REN -- Renames a file or files.RENAME -- Renames a file or files.
REPLACE -- Replaces files.
RMDIR -- Removes a directory.
ROBOCOPY -- Advanced utility to copy files and directory trees
SET -- Displays, sets, or removes Windows environment variables.SETLOCAL -- Begins localization of environment changes in a batch file.
SC -- Displays or configures services (background processes).
SCHTASKS -- Schedules commands and programs to run on a computer.
SHIFT -- Shifts the position of replaceable parameters in batch files.
SHUTDOWN -- Allows proper local or remote shutdown of machine.
SORT -- Sorts input.
START -- Starts a separate window to run a specified program or command.
SUBST -- Associates a path with a drive letter.
SYSTEMINFO -- Displays machine specific properties and configuration.
TASKLIST -- Displays all currently running tasks including services.
TASKKILL -- Kill or stop a running process or application.
TIME -- Displays or sets the system time.
TITLE -- Sets the window title for a CMD.EXE session.
TREE -- Graphically displays the directory structure of a drive or path.
TYPE -- Displays the contents of a text file.VER -- Displays the Windows version.
VERIFY -- Tells Windows whether to verify that your files are written correctly to a disk.
VOL -- Displays a disk volume label and serial number.
XCOPY -- Copies files and directory trees.WMIC -- Displays WMI information inside interactive command shell.
For detailed help, enter the command name with
/?, such as
dir /?. To copy text from the command window: right-click, chose
Select All from the shortcut menu, and then press
Enter (shortcut for Copy).
Looking at the list, I see a whole bunch more commands we never had (or needed) back in the DOS days. Some of the commands -- such as SORT, FOR, and IF -- made batch files as powerful as simple programs.
Back in 1984, I wrote a DOS batch file that read through a file containing data on vehicle accidents, and chose all those that needed to be examined in greater detail. What I liked about using DOS is that there was no need to open and close files, as in other programming languages.
To this day, I still use DOS to rename an entire folder of file names.
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