Best of DOS Help! text version 4.0c Written by Dan Rollins Copyright 1985,91 by Flambeaux Software, Inc. PC Computing's Best of DOS Help!ppq(Config.Sys Cmd)ANSI.SYSASCIIAPPENDATTRIBAUTOEXEC.BATaboutaccessaddedafteralternatalwaysanotheranyapplicationattributeautomaticavailableBACKUPBASICbackbatchbeforebetweenbootbufferC:\ (root)CHKDSKCODEPAGECOMMAND.COMCOMMANDCOMCOPYCtrl-BreakcausecertainchangecharactercodecompatiblecompleteconditioncontaincontrolcountrycreatecurrentDEVICE=DIRDISKDOS FilterDOS UtilitiesdatadefaultdeletedestinationdevicedifferentdisplayeddisplaydriveduplicateECHOERRORLEVELeacheffectenterenvironmentexampleexecutexistextendedextensionexternalFASTOPENFORMATfirstfloppyfollowforegroundformatfromfunctiongeneralglossarygraphicsgroundgrouphardhavehiddenhintinformationincludindicateinputinstanceinstructionsinteractiveinternationalinterpreterintokeyboardkeystrokeLASTDRIVE=languagelinelistMODEmakematchmaymemorymessagemodifiedNLSFUNCnormalnotenumberomittedonlyoperationoptionoriginaloutputPRINTPROMPTPurpose:parameterpartpathphantompossiblepreviousprinterprintproblemprocessprogrampromptprovideREPLACERESTORERemarks:redirectionreplacerequirereservedSubject IndexSUBSTsamesearchsecondaryselectsequenceserialsetseveralshouldsoftwaresomesourcespecialspecifstandardstartstringstructuresubcommandsubstitutsupportsystemtargettexttransferUsage:usingvalueWORDPROCwhenwhichwithoutwordprocwrittenXCOPY[d:][filespec]Chr Dec Hx 7 <i "R#&a*-056;>?LW$fkrt]v"~Ém7Yn(L'Z r*O-5/@E>JLOdRTsVky-sS(Pen|fs7 |(*C-/J3I69;2BGEhMcOWX|[6`'nOwfhѕ,<#6k'qh ,{+&>sDPdgmjPu М4zLogo# !! "              presents...    The Best of   ۱    ۱  ۱  ۱ $  ۱ $۱ 2 6ͻ "The Best of DOS Help!" 5base for DOS 1.0-4.01  Copyright (c) 1985,91 by Flambeaux , Inc.  6ͼeI+*J6RB^,*K6SB_-*M6TB.*6UB`/"/*6VB a0*6WB  *6XBb16YBc   2* O6 ZB d  ! 3* P6 [B Y  ? 4* QB e  " " 5B   # 7* B 6* o(8* B )9* B g** B*  l*B DOS Commands$Ŀ  Ŀ  Ŀ  Ŀ Assign DosShell Recover  () BREAK= Append Erase Del Rename Debug Call BUFFERS= Attrib Exit  Edlin Echo COUNTRY= up Fastopen Restore Exe2Bin For 0 Break Q Rmdir RD Fdisk Goto DRIVPARM= Chcp Graftabl  Link If FCBS= Chdir CD V Share  Pause FILES= Chkdsk Keyb Subst  Rem INSTALL= Cls Join Sys Find Shift i Command Label Time More @cmd REM Comp Mem Tree Sort  SHELL= Copy Mkdir MD Type   STACKS= Ctty Mode Verify  s and Directories SWITCHES= Date Nlsfunc Ver  Files  Dir  Vol  The DOS Shell Table Diskcomp  Xcopy  Configuring DOS ANSI 's Diskcopy   DOS Versions Keys $ I/O  Main Menu Subjects U Help for DOS Help! Quit Help!    l Main Menu! DOS Commands  DOS Command Xs  DOS Command Summaries  Beginner Command Sub !  # U  How to Use This   Flambeaux   Exit RHelp! L͵ Copyright (c) Flambeaux . All Rights .H S T U V W XYZ[ "$&(K*,.02I4M68:<>@OBDF HJL!NP"R?T#VPXZ(\)^*`+b,d-f.h/jl0npQr1t2v3x4z5|7~6891 A DOS Command Summaries ASSIGN %a disk ='s =letter (s think C: is B:)  Help s locate 5and overlay files  %a file's (mark a file as read-y) Cmds Use these commands in files: Call Run  and resume this one finished (DOS 3.3) Echo h1\0A Disk Commands These commands relate to whole disks. Chkdsk  Check the integrity of a disk's file  Label  .or %the volume label for a disk Q Prepare a disk for ; destroy disk 5 Vol  an entire diskette Diskcomp  See if one diskette is identical to  ; verify a 2! Assign  Trick an fing a :disk Join  Attach one disk to  as a subdirectory Subst  na =ID equate to a directory name Fastopen  Install to speed up types of file  Fdisk  up a Ydisk installing DOS Sys  Install low-level files; upgrade to a new DOS version 0DRIVER.SYS install =; .N 0V2.SYS  .a RAM disk N The Config.Sys File Command Xs DOS Commands #)#5# T#    fkj0A Screen, , and gCommands Console Ŀ "Ŀ Cls  Clear screen  /stop Wing Ctty  ive console Graftabl up V-mode &s Type "  Share  Network . L Break  Tell DOS to check for " Verify  Disk read/write insurance$ National js Ŀ Level Configuration Ŀ Mode  Prepare 'page The CONFIG.SYS File Nlsfunc  'page switcher CONFIG.SYS Commands Chcp  Switch to 'page  Hconsole Keyb  Int'l g V2.SYS  RAM disk  .disk DRIVER.SYS  N DISPLAY.SYS EGA/LCD font switching DRIVPARM=  9tings ~ER.SYS IBM fonts XMA2EMS.SYS  EMS  N0 Command Xs DOS Commands 9JK M I0A 4 These s are supplied with DOS. While Ais an Jcommand they are usually thought of as utilities; s separate Rthe rank-and-file DOS commands.  A ming j; also known as A or GW DEBUG  Assembly jming tool EDLIN  k-oriented editor DOSSHELL cfile and manager F2 Prepare a Ydisk to receive a DOS ition SELECT  .a disk Rthe |IBM DOS disksN0 Command Xs DOS Commands 5 ,   "5u/(0A Beginner Command  Most DOS commands are used rarely or not at all. you are just ing out with DOS, focus on the Oing DOS commands: Dir  S  w8 s w- n+ w0%(-*+ \ $!+>1+45 o7S 99e9U19 A9 :The Command Invokes a DOS command e. This is an Jcommand. Use to:  Bively "nest" files (DOS 3.3+ can use CALL instead)  Fe DOS commands Rwithin an   .a larger DOS Darea [com] [ /P [/MSG] ] [/E:n] [/C command] com ies where to find the copy of  you wish to Fe. If x,  SPEC in the DOS Dis used. /P .s a Permanent command e. It ally Fes  /E:n s the size of the Dto n bytes /C command Fes the _d command and immediately exits If used, /C must be the final . If /C and /P are used in the command, then /P is ignored. /C is x, the command egoes fc mode. You pCcommands and Fe s, then use the EXIT command to return to the primary command e. The command einherits the parent's D, but %s via SET or PATH or are lost upon return to the |(parent) command e.Versions: The /E {is undocumented in DOS 2.x It does works (here and in the CONFIG.SYS file SHELL= command), however the 'n'  ies the Dsize in PARAGRAPHS (16-byte units). Thus, for DOS 2.x, n to the desired size divided by 16. DOS 3.2+ takes /P to mean "Fe "Es: /C dir A:*.bas Fes a directory command a file or of files for up purposes  Send 5to the   .a file directly Rthe g ![d:]filespec [[d:]filespec] /V     /V means to verify the copy (see VERIFY ON ). of the filename 9s can be a or . If the '' filespec Gs, it will be overwith a >of the '' filespec. Since !is used often, it s mshortcuts, so you can save typing. If you are just getting ed, it is best to use full filenames for both the '' and the ''. Power users can take advantages of these short cuts: Use wildcard filespecs to copy Xs of files Rone directory or =to  . A wildcard in the '' means "copy all oing files." A wildcard in the '' means use the  name as the ''. '' consists of ya =ID, the file(s) are copied to that =with the names (as if '' ^ed a *.* wildcard) '' is xentirely, the /6=and 6directory on that =are assumed and the '' must +a valid =ID of name. the is a name all files in the directory are copied (*.* is assumed). the is a name, the '' file(s) are copied fthat directory.Es: !myfile.dat myfile.bak >s MYFILE.DAT, naming the copy as MYFILE.BAK=  !myfile.dat *.bak as above, but saves you typing !A:*.bas C: copies all files with an Iof .BAS on =A: to files of the name on =C: !a:*.bas copies all files with an Iof .BAS on =A: to files of the name on the 6= !c:\utils a: copies all files in directory C:\UTILS to the names on =A. Use this to up files to Ndiskettes. !a:myfile.dbf c:\dbase copies MYFILE.DBF R=A to C:\DBASE\MYFILE.DBF\s: To a file, copy it to the : !c:\pascal\myprog.pas PRN (na raw out of the file) To quickly .a file (for a, a file ), copy Rthe console to a disk file: !CON c:\autoexec.bat Just Cthe ks of , then press [F6] or Ctrl-Z   Cing the last k. See Files for an E.See Also: !cont... Files and Filenames  DOS Commands 2 7 OO1O AO P!continued... This page covers the {s of the !command that are used less often. See The !Command for the often-used variations. These variations ^e the ability to  Convert old (DOS 1.x) files fDOS 2.x+ Q  Add two files together to .a larger file  Add ks of g`to the end of a file  %a file's time and date stamp ![/A or /B] [d:]filespec [+[d:]filespec...] [[d:]filespec] [/V]  % (s)  /V means to verify the copy. See also: VERIFY ON  /A and /B are needed working with files .d with DOS versions prior to 2.0 (DOS 1.x did not keep track of the exact length of the file so s used Ctrl-Z to mark the file's end). The /A and /B will affect all filespecs that Othem. used with a '' file: /A means to treat this file as an file: halt the copy  a Ctrl-Z (End of File marker) is encountered in the file. /B means to treat this file as a Binary file: copy everything up to the file length given in the directory. used with a '' file: /A adds a Ctrl-Z to the end of the file. /B does not add a Ctrl-Z. for E: !/A dos1file.txt /B dos2file.txt ensures that DOS2FILE.TXT will Zthe correct size with no ending Ctrl-Z. Ŀ Concatenation Copy The '+ [d:]filespec ...' {is used to  concatenate two or more files fone larger file. you y a '' the lof concatenated files will go fthat file: !/A main.pas + proc1.pas + proc2.pas myprog.pas .s the file MYPROG.PAS Rthe three |files. The /A is used so that no Ctrl-Z is copied Rthe three  files but MYPROG.PAS will get a Ctrl-Z at its end. !/A chap*.txt mybook.txt .s the file MYBOOK.TXT will +all the files that begin with the letters CHAP and Zan Iof .TXT !A:*.* C:\allfiles This one could be a "Gotcha". If C:\ALLFILES is a directory, then all files on =A are copied fthat directory as separate files (as you expected). But if \ALLFILES is a file or does not G, then the files R=A: are concatenated fone large file in the root of =C. @Ŀ you don't y a , the FIRST FILE IN THE LIST of  concatenated files WILL BE THE DESTINATION:  @ !myprog.pas + proclib.pas adds PROCLIB.PAS to the end of MYPROG.PAS !autoexec.bat + CON adds g`to the end of (Cks of and press [F6] (or Ctrl-Z) and [C] done). !/B dos1file.txt +,, %s the directory entry for the file DOS1FILE.TXT to reflect its actual length and %s the file's date and time to the /date and time. The /B is very important if you are time-stamping binary (non-) files.See Also: ! Files and Filenames  DOS Commands  n + 31 A The DATE Command DATE 12/1/86  If you omit the date, then DOS will you: A>DATE  /date is Fri 8-16-85 Cnew date:_vs: AT and PS/2 owners need this rarely, since the date and time is held in battery-powered q. PC/XT owners who Za clock/calendar feature run the supplied to  the clock to othe time on the feature board. ing with DOS 3.3 this command ally s the date on the AT and PS/2 battery-powered clock calendar so it will be correct the next time you . For versions prior to 3.3, AT owners use the "up" { of the DIAGS if you AT want to %the date permanently (eg, Daylight Savings Time s or ends).See Also: TIME#  DOS Commands  F # ~4}! y4 1%u2% v2{.24Q 66 .617 A7 8The 1Command 1D Volume in =C is HARD 2  volume label (if ) Volume wis 3C61-1CF2  DOS 4.0 y(ignore it) Directory of C:\  full name of this directory J   45696 2-16-85 12:01a  name,I,size,date,time AUTOEXEC BAT 213 6-09-86 12:35p$ UTILS <1> 4-07-86 8:01p$  3 File(s) 9152224 bytes free% C>_F JͼEs: 1 With no s, 1assumes all the 6s. It ls all files in the 6directory of the 6= 1A: ls all files in the 6directory of =A 1c:\dbase /p ls all files in the \DBASE directory of =C. The /P ns the ling pause  Ascreenful is scrolled. 1c:\dbase\*.dbf ls all files in the \DBASE directory of =C that Zan Iof .DBF\: 1does not l[files. See /V for a way to do so. Use the SORT filter to put the ling in alphabetical order.See Also: File Naming Rules File Commands s and Directories 1  DOS Commands .  1 A The 2 P CommandCompares two diskettes. Use to nsure a 2!worked. This is an Jcommand.  2 P [d:] [d:] [/1][/8]/1 means to compare a 1-sided diskette to a 2-sided diskette. /8 means to compare an 8-sector disk to a 9- or 15-sector diskette. If you y two =s, the disks in those =s are compared: 2 P a: b: If you y yone =(or no =), then the diskette in that =(or in the 6=) is compared against   diskette in the =. You are ed to swap diskettes occasionally. 2 P a:See Also: Disk Commands  DOS Commands  &( |< 9  96 &{' /: >> 1> A> ?The 2!Command Copies the entire contents of one diskette to  . This is an Jcommand.  Use to na quick and simple up of a diskette. ?ĿWARNING! Use 2!with care. If the 8diskette +s  5, that 5will be destroyed by this command.  ? 2![d:] [d:] [/1]   /1 means to copy a 1-sided diskette to a 2-sided diskette =. The diskette will be Qted ally (if necessary) to othe Qof the diskette. If you y two =s, the is copied to the =: 2!a: b: (Nin =A is >d to =B) If you y one =(or no =), the disk in that =(or in the 6=) is copied to  disk in the =. 2!a: (you must swap diskettes ed)vs: 2!does not recognize ASSIGN =re-assignments. 2!will perpetuate file fragmentation Use !*.* or *.* to >files contiguously. The !or command, a suitable wildcard is probably a better way to up a disk. However, 2!has  advantages: The needs not be Qted hand It >s the directory (if ) It copies [and files It copies the volume label \s: This command works fastest if you Za lot of RAM. 2!works across combinations of media, but not all:       Ŀ 5- (180K) yes yes yes*          Ĵ S 5- (360K)  yes yes*    O       Ĵ U 5- (1.2M)   yes    R       Ĵ C 3- (720K)    yes yes  E       Ĵ 3- (1.4M)     yes        ͵ TARGET  5- (180K)5- (360K)5- (1.2M)3- (720K)3- (1.4M)       * Diskettes copied to 1.2M AT =s are >d to the |size, but you pZtrouble reading the copied diskette 360K or 180K =s.See Also: 2 P Disk Commands  DOS Commands .  1 {@  yF . 8/18 A8 9The ERASE (or DEL) Command Removes a file or Xof files Ra disk. Use to clean up a disk by deleting obsolete and temporary files. 7ĿWARNING! Use ERASE with care. The ed file(s) will be  7d and cannot be recovered with DOS command.  7 ERASE [d:]filespec /P or   DOS 4.0 y DEL [d:]filespec /P DEL is a valid abbreviation for ERASE. /P is valid ywith DOS 4.0 It ies that you want to be ed to verify the deletion of Afile. You can use wildcard filespecs to 7a Xof files, but be careful (see \s). You cannot ERASE files that are marked Read-y(see ).Es: ERASE precious.dat 7s the file PRECIOUS.DAT. If you don't Za up, you can kiss it good-bye. ERASE a:\*.BAS 7s all files in the root directory of =A that Zan Iof .BAS DEL a:\*.bas /P- DOS 4.0  is the as above, except that deleting a file, DOS will you to verify the deletion; eg: A:\MYPROG.BAS, 7(Y/N)?_ Press N (for NO) or Y (for Yes) and press Cin response to A. Press Ctrl-C or "to stop the . ERASE c:\dbase If \DBASE is a directory instead of a file, then you are ed: Are you sure (Y/N)? Press Y  to 7the files ... OR ... Press N  or "to abort the command.\: a wildcard filespec with the ERASE command, issue a 1command with the wildcard filespec. This will show you a lof the files that you are to 7. companies sell s, or fiel utilities,  can recover 7d files; eg, the Norton Utilities, Mace Utilities, etc. One thing to remember:  you notice the deletion, you must nno further %s to the disk. In icular DON'T SAVE, !, OR DELETE ANY MORE FILES on that disk until you run the utility and recover the lost file.See Also: RM1"  DOS Commands  E, <? n)! | " o1) A) *The KCommand Increases the speed of disk-intensive DOS commands and s by remembering the disk locations of files and directories, avoiding look up time. This is an Jcommand. DOS 3.3+ DOS 4.0: Users of DOS 4.0 refer to The KCommand for DOS 4.0  Kd:[=nnn] ... 'd:' ies =be ed by the command. nnn ies how mfile entries be remembered. It can range R10 to 999. x, nnn 6s to 34. You can use Kyone time; uly in your  You can repeat the 'd:=nnn' multiple times on the command k once for A=on you want fast .Es: Kc:=100 s up fast-open zs on =C. Room is allocated to store 100 directory and/or file entries. Kc:=200 d:=100 s up fast-open zs on =s C and D, allocating extra space for =C.vs: This command works by keeping track of the physical disk location of files get ed during uz. uly, a large filename such as D:\5\1987\qtr1\recvbl.dat will #DOS to seek to four or more places on the disk it actually s reading the file's 5. Ksaves these steps by looking in its table instead of bouncing around the disk. Kcan Zsignificant impact on Ydisks Za lot of directories, ely fragmented directories. It ns files run slightly faster. s palso load faster. vthat large s for 'nnn' pactually slow zs down. Also, Kuses 35 bytes for Afile entry ied with 'nnn'. ^ing overhead, KC:=100 increases the resident size of DOS by 5.5K.See Also:(  DOS Commands ( >  w,r * 1 A The EXIT Command Exit Ra copy of (the command e).Use to:  Return to s allow you to "Go to DOS" to Fe DOS commands.  Remove DOS Help! Rq,  installing it via HELP /X. EXIT If you use I/O to feed commands to a command e, be sure that the EXIT command is the last kof the redirected `file. EXIT has no Bif you are Fing the primary  or if the was ed with the /P {. The DOS D^ing the command and the user is reto its , but the 6=and directory are not restored.See Also: The Command  DOS Commands +=p=p, 32F"/, G,{B-p0 v=> @ J,J x g+hz n 1n An oThe LCommand Initializes a disk. New diskettes won't work until they Z been Qted. This is an Jcommand. DOS 4.0: Users of DOS 4.0 refer to The LCommand for DOS 4.0 Use to:  .a 5disk to receive files  Prepare a diskette  Cleanse an old diskette of all its 5and check for bad sectors  Initialize a Ydisk it is Minstalled -- Be careful! >ĿWARNING! Use Lwith care. 5on the disk will be lost  forever. It can NEVER be recovered under circumstances.  Take ** care not to Qyour Ydisk.  > L[d:] [/S or /B] [/V] [/1] [/8] [/4] [/N:xx /T:xx] If you do not y a =ID, the disk in the /6 =will be Qted better type that =ID!. /S s files to the Qted disk, making it able v: The /6=must +a disk. /V allows you to give the disk a volume label  /B Qs a diskette in such a way that the DOS files p be red to it later. See the SYS command. /1 Qs a 1-sided disk (for use with obsolete 1-sided =s) /8 Qs with the obsolete (DOS 1.x) 8-sector Q /4 forces a 1.2M (high capacity) =to Qa diskette in the 360K (double-sided) layout. /N:xx s a wof sectors to be used  DOS 3.3  /T:xx s the wof tracks to be Qted  These let you Qa disk to less than its rated capacity. If either /N or /T is used, both must be used. These are not to be used on a Ydisk. If none of /1, /4, /T, or /N is ied, the disk is Qted to its highest rated capacity.Es: LA:/S The diskette will +the file and the two [ files IBMBIO. and IBMDOS. . It can be used as a disk. L(no s) The /6=will be Qted to its highest-rated capacity. This is very DANGEROUS, since the 6=might be your Ydisk. It is best to  y a =ID. LA:/1/8 The Qted diskette will work on a PC that has a 1-sided =. LA: /n:9 /t:80 Used in a 3-" 1.4M =(eg, PS/2) to Qa 720K diskette. The disk can be used on an IBM Convertible or (laptop.Versions: DOS versions prior to 3.0 nit to Qyour Ydisk by accident. Later versions you with a warning, and ing with DOS 3.2 an additional safety mechanism forces you to type-in the volume label of the Ydisk DOS will Qit. DOS 3.3 adds the /N and /T {s, mainly so you can . 720K Convertible-(disks on a 1.4M PS/2 =. See the compatibility cross-reference below. A known bug in DOS 3.30 Qwill occasionally _that a diskette is unusable , in fact, it is perfectly OK. You p solve the by typing 1A: Qting. Other random s Zbeen vd, ely  cross-Qting 720K diskettes on a 1.4M =.vs: DOS 3.2+ exits with the Oing @'s: 0 Successful Q 3 Terminated by user with " 4 Terminated by an error 5 Terminated by user ('N' response on Qting a fixed disk) Qting diskette-to-=cross-reference: Diskette Type =Type Bytes {s to Use     5-" 1-sided PC (360K) 160K /8 /1 5-" 1-sided AT (1.2M) 160K /t:40 /n:9 /1 5-" 2-sided PC (360K) 320K /8 5-" 2-sided PC (360K) 360K (none) 5-" 2-sided AT (1.2M) 360K /4 5-" 2-sided AT (1.2M) 1.2M (none) 3-" Convertible PS/2 (1.4M) 720K /t:80 /n:9 3-" PS/2 PS/2 (1.4M) 1.4M (none)\s:  use a =ID (La:). Be sure to Qthe right disk!  Re-read your Lcommand kpressing . Then read Arcarefully. 360K diskettes, Qted with a 1.2M =(/4), are reliably read and yby 1.2M =s. As a Ydisk ages, it pdevelop bad sectors. By the RECOVER command, you can force DOS to mark the sectors as bad in the FAT The yway to really clear up the is to do a full up, perform a low-level Q(not with DOS commands), .a DOS ition with F2, use Lto initialize for DOS, and then restore all files. Don't attempt this unless you know what you're doing!See Also: Disk Commands  DOS Commands  + >F 1 A The GRAPHICS Command s up so that pressing SHIFT-PrtSc will copy a Vscreen to your IBM (or fully-() dot-matrix . This is an Jcommand. It increases the resident size of DOS. uly, pressing SHIFT-PrtSc will ysend &s to your . But if you use this command BEFORE NEEDING TO ~ A SCREEN, you will be able to get a screen dump of k-graphs, pie-charts, etc. by pressing SHIFT-PrtSc.DOS 4.0: Users of DOS 4.0 refer to The GRAPHICS Command for DOS 4.0  GRAPHICS [_type] [/R] [/B] [/LCD] _type is COLOR1, COLOR4, or COLOR8 (IBM Color with various ribbons)  PACT (IBM Compact ) GRAPHICS (IBM Vor Epson-( this is the 6) /R s as seen on the monitor (black is black, white is white) /B on color s s the Win the Wcolor. /LCD #ing to look like it does on LCD <. DOS 3.3 See Also: GRAFTABL Screen and   DOS Commands & E<2.178*  " "81" A" #The LABEL Command .s/revises/7s the volume label of a disk. DOS 3.0+  Use to give a diskette a label for  key, then striking three digits on the numeric keypad and then releasing . For a, to type '', press 219. See Keys See Also: Disk Commands VOL  DOS Commands  1 A The MK1Command .s a new directory. Use you want to add a new category of files to your Ydisk. MK1[d:]name or MD [d:]name MK1and MD are the command. nsure that no full name exceeds 63 &s in length.E: MD c:\dbase .s the new directory \DBASE in the root of =C\s: Although it is OK to use a filename Iin a name, it is advisable to use 8 or fewer &s a period. If you stick to this 'no I' convention, you can get a quick lof all subdirectories in a directory by : 1*. (1star dot C)See Also: s and Directories  DOS Commands +@$ & '%1 A The mCommand This command is used for a wide variety of 9-,Ss. This is an Jcommand. DOS 4.0: Users of DOS 4.0 refer to The mCommand for DOS 4.0  To see the how to use these Ss, a category below: m: , m: Screen , m: Port , m:  m: 'Page  (DOS 3.3 y)See Also:(  DOS Commands 4% #1 A m: , This form of the mcommand is used to ,a variety of -related Ss. Use to get extra on a ed page. mLPT#: [cpl] [,[lpi] [,P]] # is 1, 2, or 3 (the w[parallel port w]) cpl is 80 or 132 (&s Per k) lpi is 6 or 8 (ks Per Inch) P requests continuous retry on time-out errors The cpl and lpi {s will ywork with IBM-(s.Es: mLPT1: 132,8 s to 8 ks-per-inch in compressed mode. Also disables . See: m: See Also: The mCommand  DOS Commands ( ' #1 A m:  This form of the mcommand is used to redirect the }that would uly go to a parallel , sending it to a  port. It increases the resident size of DOS. Use to up a (or other 9) in such a way that it will appear to the to be a parallel . mLPT#: =  n # is 1, 2, or 3 (the w[parallel port w]) n is 1, 2, 3, or 4 (the wof the port) v: DOS versions prior to DOS 3.3 y 1 and  2.Es: mLPT1: =  1 s up so that all &s to the Mparallel port (LPT1 or PRN) will be sent to the Mport ( 1 or AUX). mLPT1: disables (LPT1 reverts to Mport).v: You will probably need to initialize the  port this command. See: m: Port ,See Also: The mCommand  DOS Commands  $#1$ A$ %m: Screen , This form of the mcommand is used to ,a variety of <-related Ss.Use to:  Disable color (ns readable on composite monitors)  Switch the active  or C>  with thing of your own devising. The '_' is of (except < > | and =) and it p+a combination of these s: $p or $P the 6directory $t or $T the /time (hh:mm:ss.xx) $d or $D the /date (mm-dd-yy) $v or $V the DOS version w $n or $N the 6= $h or $H space (erase &) $e or $E the ESCape &(hex '1B') $_ Carriage Return+kFeed (force cursor to kbelow) This lets you nmultiple-ks. $g or $G the > (Greater-than) & $l or $L the < (Less-than) & $b or $B the | (Bar) & $q or $Q the = (eQuals) & $$ the $ (dollar sign) & $Xc s with &'c' (space or ',' or ';') (actually, undefined $-'can be used to allow the Oing &to be embedded in the ). _is x, the is reto u($n$g).Es: $p$g The _ Please Ca DOS Command} s an instructional rwith ADOS . $t$h$h$h$h$h$h$g The ' E: 12:31> $h is used to erase the seconds and hundredths Rthe time. $e[0m$p$g$e[1m Used The =r has been installed. This #s user `and command }to be ;in boldface.\s: Use '$p$g' to virtually ABOLISH directory confusion.)  One minor inconvenience occurs you use $p$g -- in the event that =A is the 6=and you remove the disk Rthat =, then Atime you press ENTER, DOS will attempt to read R=A (to determine the /for the ) and you get a low-level error r: Not ready reading =A: Abort, Retry, Fail? You can put a disk in the =and press R, or just F, in  case your becomes: /=is no longer valid>_ and you can n=C the 6by typing C:  mers: if your lets the user a copy of , it phelp to a custom : Type EXIT to resume UltraCalc$_$n$gSee Also:(  DOS Commands  Fz $ 7 7 17 A7 8The RECOVER Command Recovers 5Ra disk with a defective sector. This is an Jcommand. Use to:  Recover the good s of a file that has developed a bad sector.  Mark bad sectors so DOS will never use them again. <ĿWARNING! Use RECOVER with care. If you fail to y a filespec,  you could Bively lose all 5on your Ydisk!  < RECOVER [d:]filespec or RECOVER d:  Use EXTREME Caution !!! you use a filespec , the s of the named filespec #a read error will be purged Rthe file. This means that you will lose 5, but at least most of it will be saved. CAUTION: If you omit the filespec and use just a =ID, the command will rebuild the entire directory, giving Areadable file fragment a name in the form: FILEn.REC. It will Bively rename all files and destroy directory on the disk. This form would ybe used in the unlikely case where the FAT is intact but the root directory has been destroyed or has developed bad sectors.Es: RECOVER c:chapter1.txt recovers the readable s of the file CHAPTER1.TXT Rthe 6directory of =C. The File Allocation Table (FAT) will be updated so that the bad s of the file are never used again. RECOVER b: assumes that the directory has been damaged and overwrites it with meaningless filenames. DON'T USE THIS except on a 2!of a damaged diskette. NEVER use it on a Ydisk.\: A DOS rlike: Bad sector reading =C: Abort, retry, fail _ _s that a portion of your Ydisk has gone bad. If you simply 7the file +ing the bad sector, DOS will eventually try to reuse that bad of the disk. Assuming you got that rwhile ing a file named C:\MYDATA.DAT, then the commands: RECOVER C:\my5.dat DEL C:\my5.dat will mark the bad of the disk as bad, then 7the rest of the (now corrupt) file.See Also: Disk Commands File Commands  DOS Commands }* y 5 515 A5 6The RENAME Command %s the filename and/or Iof a file.Use to:  Give a file a name that's easier to remember  Give an obsolete version of a file a :name RENAME [d:]filespec filename[.ext] or REN [d:]filespec filename[.ext]   /name new name RENAME pbe shortened to REN. Limitations: The 'new name' must not G You can't rename a directory You can't rename a file's =or ; the new name must consist of the filename and I y. You can use wildcard &s to save typing. wildcard &in the second (the new name) will be d with &s Rthe M(the |name).Es: RENAME a:myfile.dat myfile.bak MYFILE.DAT (on =A) is given the name MYFILE.BAK REN /.dat 1986.* CURRENT.DAT (on the 6=) is given the name 1986.DAT REN a:*.dat *.bak All files on =A that Zan Iof .DAT are given an Iof .BAK\s: DOS s no way to rename a directory; however, you can get the Bby creating a new directory with the desired name, copying all files Rthe old directory fthe new, and deleting the files R, and removing, the old directory: (Ŀ @REM RenDir.Bat -- renames a directory  @?OFF  ?Renaming directory %1 to %2  PAUSE Press Ctrl-C to cancel...  MD %2"  !%2 %1  IF EXIST %2\*.* DEL %2\*.*  RD %2"  ( This file is NOT bullet proof and can fail in various ways. A little bit of safety is incorporated; the IF in the 7th k ns $to NOT 7the files in the old directory unless at least files Zbeen copied. Excerise: write a fool-proof version of this file.See Also: File Commands s and Directories  DOS Commands E+G  ' {&{${+/{.02 :21: A: ;The Command Copies files, replacing old versions with new. OR copies a X of files, making sure to NOT Ging files. This is an Jcommand. DOS 3.2+ DOS 4.0: Users of DOS 4.0 refer to The Command for DOS 4.0 Use to:  Ensure that all DOS Jcommand files on a Ydisk are d you upgrade Rone DOS version to    Propagate a new version of a to all old versions  Copy files to a RAM disk if they are not there already [d:]filespec [d:][] [/S] [/P] [/W] [/R] or [d:]filespec [d:][] [/A] [/P] [/W]     Filenames oing the '' filespec are copied to the ''. the is x, uses the /6= and directory. The filename or a wildcard must be given. /S looks through Subdirectories of the to find files that are also on the . It s Asuch file with the oing file Rthe . files that can't be found on the will not be copied. /P s Acopy. For Afile, you must decide whether to copy it Rthe to the . /R allows to read-yand files v: this overrides the file of the file. As with all DOS commands, [files are not seen and thus are not ^ed in '' wildard filespecs. /W forces to Wait while you insert a diskette for the . /W, s immediately. /A Adds files to the . It copies ythose files Rthe that DO NOT already Gin the directory.Es: a:*.* c:\ /S #s all files on directory of =C that owith  file in =A to be d by the oing file in =A.   This is the syntax you would use upgrading DOS versions (it ns sure to all DOS Jcommands, no matter where the command files are located on your Ydisk). v: This will NOT the [files IBMDOS. and IBMBIO. . You must use the SYS command to do that. c:\utils\ne.com c:\ /S/P copies a new version of the file NE. through all directories of =C that already Zthat file. You are ed to OK A. c:\lattice\lc*.exe e:\ /A if the Lattice C compiler s are not on your RAM disk (=E), they are copied Rthe \LATTICE directory of =C.See Also: SYS#  DOS Commands 4 F 5$q  {${$+ 0626-M |FNX9 Z1Z AZ [The Command Retrieves files that were stored with the command. This is an Jcommand.  Use your Ydisk crashes, or you accidentally erase a file. If you Zly ed up your 5, you will be able to restore all or of it to the Ydisk. Also use to transport a large file or an entire subdirectory R one PC's Ydisk to  by placing it on Ndisks. d: [/S] [/P] or d: [/B:date] [/A:date] [/E:time] [/L:time]  [/M] [/N] [/S] [/P] DOS 3.3    You must y the '' =(usually =A). The '' is the ORIGINAL filespec, ^ing the full , R the file was ed up. It pbe a wildcard filespec. /S says to restore all files that othe filespec, ^ing all files on child Subdirectories. /P s you to nsure that you want to restore (over-write) a file has %d since it was ed up or files marked Read-y(such as the [DOS files).  DOS 3.3 additions  /M restores yfiles Zbeen sor 7s since they were ed up. /N restores yfiles do Not Gon the . It will not overwrite ANY Ging files. /B:mm-dd-yy restores files son or  a ed date /A:mm-dd-yy restores files son or  a ed date /E:hh:mm:ss restores files sat or Earlier than the time /L:hh:mm:ss restores files sat or Later than the timeVersions: Introduced with DOS 2.0. DOS 3.0+ lets you restore Rone Ydisk to  . DOS 3.3 adds the abilities to a file subby whether it has been s/7d and a ed date and time. Since DOS 3.3 uses a :, faster way to store the files, DOS 3.3 ups must also be used for DOS 3.3 restores. You use the /L {to na log (l) of files ed up. Examine the log file to find file(s) you want to restore. DOS 3.3 will not restore , IBMBIO. or IBMDOS. (the [, files). With versions prior to DOS 3.3, you must be careful you  files. , all Jcommands, and the [ files must be the DOS version or you will not be able to . See the SYS and commands.Es: a: c:\*.* /S All files ed up with the command are restored Rthe diskette(s) in =A. You will be ed to insert the up diskettes in . a: c:\dbase\*.dbf Files with an Iof .DBF were |ly ed up Rthe \DBASE directory will be read R=A and to the \DBASE directory of =C. If that directory doesn't G on =C, it will be .d. a: c:\*.* /S /A:01-12-87 /B:01-13-87 restores all files sor 7d on January 12th or 13th of 1987.vs: You must not just copy a file Ra diskette to your Y disk. You must use to read the file correctly. and is the yway to copy a large file (greater than the size of a single N) Rone Ydisk to  on a :PC. It is also the yway to get rid of file fragmentation on a Ydisk (ie, all files, Q the Ydisk, and all files -- v: use of L on a Ydisk is risky.) your Ydisk s to get full, do a up of ed directories. Then erase those files and remove the directories. Use to put them on the Ydisk you need them. s you to with 201, but if the file you want is on, say disk 12, just with that one. The command is preferable to /in mcases.See Also: !  DOS Commands " 4 {G 1(u 1 A The RM1Command Removes (7s) a directory. Used to "prune branches" Ryour directory tree. RM1[d:]name or RD [d:]name RM1and RD are the command. The directory must be empty (no sub-directories and no files)  it can be removed. Use -R to nread-yfiles deletable. You cannot remove a directory has been ed via  You cannot remove the /6directory E: RD c:\dbase\contacts removes the \DBASE\CONTACTS directory R=C, but yif that directory is empty (directories . and .. are OK)See Also: s and Directories  DOS Commands  w#s r8*/ o(*%"s1$.%,.e4. \7;r1A o B C E wE o1E AE FThe SET Command View the DOS Dor ./%/7Ds.Use to:  bto $s  Tell DOS where to find  SPEC (the command e)  Examine the /command and   ."variables" for use in files  SET [name=[]] 'name' is of &s, unbroken by spaces '' is of &s The 'name' is converted to uppercase and the entire , ^ing the '', is placed fthe D. If '' is x, the k+ing 'name' is removed R the D. If both s are x, the entire Dis ;. The PATH and commands place s fthe D.Es: SET help=c:\utils\help stores the : HELPPATH=c:\utils\help fthe Dand DOS Help! will  find its file. SET #s DOS to  v'';,;"3;/@@$@..@7@AA$A.A!!G d9G \ TTT 1T AT UThe Command Assigns a 1-letter =ID to a directory . This is an Jcommand. DOS 3.1+ Use to:  Allow obsolete to work with names   Save yourself typing of long names  Tly give yourself the advantages of tree-d directory the associated hassle [d: /D] or d: d:\ desired ID  full name of an Ging directory  d: identifies the =ID you want to use instead of a directory name. d:\ is the name of the directory you want to as if it were a separate =. /D cancels a ion so that it no longer has B. It ns it to e a differnt name for that =ID. is used s, it   1 A The TREE Command PRN There are seven million utility s you can buy that are better for s all files in the tree of directories ing at C:\ASM\HELP to a directory tree ing at C:\ASM\HELPV31A. For athe file C:\ASM\HELP\TEXT\DOSHELP.1 is copied to a filespec of C:\ASM\HELPV31A\TEXT\DOSHELP.1, and so forth. c:\lotus\*.* c:\123\*.* /S copies all files in the \LOTUS directory and all child directories to a new directory named \123. If you then 7all files and directories R\LOTUS, you'll ZBively renamed it. c:*.* a: /D:01-10-99 /S/E this esoteric command >s your Ydisk directory layout to a Ncopying files.  you Lyour Y disk, use a reverse command to re-.your directory  beginning to restore files. This will ensure that all directories will reside physically near the root and the FAT for faster .\s: Although this command assumes 6s as usual, things can get conf; will even for `to resolve ambiguities. I recommend full wildcard filespecs such as c:\lotus\*.wks a:\*.* even though you could omit the final "\*.*". works best as a up tool used in a file. With DOS 3.3 s @to 4 for a "disk full" error, so you can use a file such as: (Ŀ ?OFF  CLS$  ?-- full up of =C:  +A c:\*.* /s  :loop"  ?Insert Qted disk in =A:  PAUSE"  c:\*.* a: /S/M  IF @4 GOTO loop  ?-- All done ---  ( This s the archive for all files on =C, Bively "tagging" all files for up. This combination of DOS 3.3 and lets you tag ed files for up. v, however, that this fails if there is  file larger than an entire diskette, since won't be able to copy it; you must use in that case. v: DOS 4.0 doesn't @on a disk full error. copies files in contiguous sectors and therefore eliminates fragmentation of files. 's /M and /D {s a handy way to keep the most recent revisions of a Ydisk file on N. For a, c:\bascom\\*.* a:\*.* /M is usually faster than a similar !command be#it copies y the files that Zbeen s. It is more convenient than be#you can restore the files to directory via !.See Also:     DOS Commands 8r((F. y* w9*0 4u;0ef r"r()r1Ar sThe Command for DOS 4.0 .s a '5' analogous to the command  .d by the PATH command. This is an Jcommand. DOS 4.0 Use to:  Help an older version of Wordstar find its overlay files  Help 5base s locate 5dictionaries, etc.  In T, help an obsolete locate necessary files if they are not in the /6directory =ĿWARNING! This command has a variety of side Bs. In cases,  it p#you to misplace files. Also, you pneed to  disable its affect Fing $DOS commands.  = [ [d:]name;... ] [/X:flag] [/PATH:flag]  Mtime or1  /E [/X:flag] [/PATH:flag]  [ [d:]name;... ] [/X:flag] [/PATH:flag]  subsequently or2  [;])  [d:]name... is a lof one or more directory s that you wish to be ^ed in the . flag is either ON or OFF /X:OFF #s to ignore (not for) . , .EXE, and .BAT files. This is the 6ting. /X:ON (or just /X) ies eXtended file-ing. Fable files (with an Iof . , .EXE, or .BAT) will be found. /PATH:OFF #s to ignore (not for) files you Zied with a name. /PATH:ON #s to perform an H, even if you y a name you request a file. This is the 6. /E ns the = 5visible in the D You will be able to use SET to see and %the . This {is valid ythe Mtime is used and present, you can't supply a lof names. with no s c% |) = \? n)c)0 | 1 o18 A8 9The KCommand for DOS 4.0 Increases the speed of disk-intensive DOS commands and s by remembering the disk locations of files and directories, avoiding look up time. DOS 4.0  This is an Jcommand. It pbe loaded via INSTALL=  Kd: [=nnn]... [/X] or Kd: =(nnn,mmm)... [/X] 'd:' ies =be ed by the command. nnn ies how mfile entries be remembered. It can range R10 to 999. x, nnn 6s to 34. mmm allocates storage for fragmented file lookup chains. It can range R1 to 999. x, mmm 6s to 34. /X ies to put the Ks in eXpanded q. This {is valid yif you ZEMS Yware and Z installed the EMS =r, Xma2Ems.Sys in your Config.Sys file. You can use Kyone time; uly in your Autoexec.Bat  You can repeat the 'd:=(nnn,mmm)' multiple times on the command k once for A=on you want fast . vthat nnn and mmm for all =s must sum up to less than 1000. Kpbe loaded via the INSTALL= configuration command.Es: Kc:=100 s up fast-open zs on =C. Room is allocated to store 100 directory and/or file entries. Kc:=(200,400) s up fast-open zs on =C. It allocates space for 200 file or directory entries plus 400 contigous space . Kc:=200 d:=100 s up fast-open zs on =s C and D, allocating extra space for =C.vs: This command works by keeping track of the physical disk location of files get ed during uz. uly, a large filespec such as D:\5\1987\qtr1\recvbl.dat will #DOS to seek to four or more places on the disk it actually s reading the file's 5. Ksaves these steps by looking in its table instead of bouncing around the disk. Kcan Zsignificant impact on Ydisks Za lot of directories, ely fragmented directories. It ns files run slightly faster. s palso load faster. vthat large s for 'nnn' pactually slow zs down. Kuses (nnn * 35)+(mmm * 16) bytes of (or expanded) q. If 6s are used, Kuses 1.7K per = plus 4K of overhead.See Also:(  DOS Commands Fp=p2 9&2G7{B8p;G 8Q)[ x\W i+jz p 1p Ap qThe LCommand for DOS 4.0 Initializes a disk. New diskettes won't work until they Z been Qted. This is an Jcommand. DOS 4.0 Use to:  .a 5disk to receive files  Prepare a diskette  Cleanse an old diskette of all its 5and check for bad sectors  Initialize a Ydisk it is Minstalled Be careful! >ĿWARNING! Use Lwith care. 5on the disk will be lost  forever. It can NEVER be recovered under circumstances.  Take ** care not to Qyour Ydisk.  > Ld: [/S or /B] [/1] [/8] [/4] [/N:xx /T:xx] [/V:label] or Ld: [/S or /B] [F:size] [/V:label] d: identifies the =to Q. You must y a =ID with DOS 4.0 L. /S s files to the disk, making it able v: The /6=must +a disk. /V:label allows you to give the disk a volume label If you omit /V or 'label', you are ed to `one. /F:size overrides the 6size for the disk. Valid s for size ^e: 160K, 180K, 320K, 360K 5-inch diskettes 1200K (or 1.2M) 5-inch hi-capacity disks 720K 3-inch diskettes 1440K (or 1.44M) 3-inch hi-capacity disks You puse just the digits of 'size' or append K or KB. /B Qs a diskette in such a way that the DOS files pbe red to it later. See the SYS command. /1 Qs a 1-sided disk (for use with obsolete 1-sided =s) /8 Qs with the obsolete (DOS 1.x) 8-sector Q /4 forces a 1.2M (high capacity) =to Qa diskette in the 360K (double-sided) layout (as /F:360K). /N:xx s a wof sectors to be used /T:xx s the wof tracks to be Qted These let you Qa disk to less than its rated capacity. If either /N or /T is used, both must be used. These are not to be used on a Ydisk. The /1, /4, /8, /T, and /N {s are superceded by /F:size. They Gyfor compatibility with older version of DOS. If none of these sizing {s is used, the disk is Qted to its highest rated capacity.Es: LA:/S The diskette will +the file and the two [ files IBMBIO. and IBMDOS. . It can be used as a disk. L(no s) is an error in DOS 4.0. You must supply a =ID. LA:/1/8 The Qted diskette will work on a PC that has a 1-sided =. LA: /f:720 Used in a 3-" 1.4M =(eg, PS/2) to Qa low-cost 720K diskette. /F:720, DOS will attempt to Qthe diskette as a high-capacity, 1.44M diskette and will probably fail, or take a long time and end up with a lot of bad sectors. LC: Qs your Ydisk (actually the MDOS ition found on your MYdisk). You will see a rsuch as: WARNING, ALL DATA in NON-REMOVABLE 2 DRIVE C: WILL BE LOST! Proceed with Q(Y/N)?_ Read this carefully and think your future with the firm proceeding. BĿWARNING! attempting to Qa Ydisk, use F2to nsure  that a DOS ition Gs on ALL Ydisks in the . For  a, if your MYdisk has no DOS ition, DOS will  consider your second Ydisk as =C and will Qit.  Bvs: 360K diskettes, Qted with a 1.2M =(/4 or /F:360), are reliably read and yby 1.2M =s. This  does NOT Ggoing 1.44M and 720K media/=s. Lexits with the Oing @'s, pbe tested via the IF file . @Meaning  5 0 Successful Q 3 User terminated via " 4 Terminated be#of an error 5 User decided not to Qa fixed disk\s: Re-read your Lcommand kpressing . Then read Arcarefully. As a Ydisk ages, it pdevelop bad sectors. By the RECOVER command, you can force DOS to mark the sectors as bad in the FAT The yway to really clear up the is to do a full up, perform a low-level Q(not with DOS commands), .a DOS ition with F2, use Lto initialize for DOS, and then restore all files. Don't attempt this unless you know what you're doing!See Also: Disk Commands  DOS Commands  F<) ..1. A. /The GRAPHICS Command for DOS 4.0 s up so that pressing SHIFT-PrtSc will copy a Vscreen to your IBM-logoed (or strictly-() dot-matrix . This is an Jcommand. It increases the size of DOS. DOS 4.0  uly, pressing SHIFT-PrtSc will ysend &s to your . But if you use this command BEFORE NEEDING TO ~ A SCREEN, you will be able to get a screen dump of k-graphs, pie-charts, etc. by pressing SHIFT-PrtSc. GRAPHICS [_type] [d:profile] [/R] [/B] [ /LCD or /PB:id ] _type is GRAPHICS (IBM Vor Epson-(; the 6) GRAPHICSWIDE (wide-carriage IBM s) COLOR1, COLOR4, or COLOR8 (IBM Color with various ribbons) THERMAL (IBM PC Convertible ) (custom) a custom type .d in the .PRO Profile File  profile is a filespec of a file +ing ]on s used in your . The file GRAPHICS.PRO  comes with DOS 4.0 defines all IBM types. If 'profile' is x, GRAPHICS.PRO is used. /R s as on the screen; black is black, white is white. /B s Win the Wcolor (color s). /LCD #s ing to look like it does on LCD <. /PB:id s the type of "Box". 'id' is one of: STD use aspect ratio of full-sized screen (6) LCD use aspect ratio of LCD screen (as /LCD)Es: GRAPHICS c:\dos4\V.pro /R prepares for SHIFT-PrtSc. It _s to look in the C:\DOS4 directory to find the profile file. }will be reversed. GRAPHICS ANADEX c:\dos4\anadex.pro prepares for SHIFT-PrtSc. A custom profile will be read describes how to }to an ANADEX .vs: The Qof the profile file is desrcibed under the topic: .PRO Profile File Q You probably n't waste your time, but pbe to define a custom profile for graphical screen dumps.See Also: GRAFTABL Screen and   DOS Commands  (F) ) \@:)?K1? A? @DEBUG CommandsIn the summary below: addr is X OR X:X OR segreg:X range is addr,addr OR addr L byte_count is X port is XXAll ws, s, counts, and addresses must be in hexadecimal notation.Command S 7A [addr] Assemble. Cassembly jmnemonics. Press <C> on a blank kto stop Cing '.C range addr Compare blocks of qD [addr or range] <(dump) qin hex and E addr [bytes] C(edit) bytes and s fqF range byte1 byte2... Fill qwith pattern of bytesG [=addr] [[addr]...] Go. Fe 'at CS:IP (or at =addr) with {al breakpoints at _d addresses.H 1 2 Hexarithmetic. <1+2 and 1-2I port `. <of an INP for _d portL [addr] Load. Load file of Name at _d addr or CS:100 orL [addr] drv sec cnt Load CNT absolute disk sectors R=DRV, sector SEC fqing at address ADDR (or CS:100)M range addr Move block of qat range to addrN [d:]filespec [parms] Name. up for Load or Write with filename and parmsO port byte }a byte to a portP [=addr][count] Proceed. Single-step Fe a CALL, LOOP, INT, etc.Q Quit. Exit RDEBUGR [register] Registers. This allows `of s to register or Flags. It also res pointer for Unassemble to CS:IP.S range bytes q. Show addrs that +ed bytes.T [=addr][count] Trace. Single-step Fe COUNT op's (or 1).U [addr or range] Unassemble. filespec or FIND [/V] [/C] [/N] filespec filespec... >filespec FIND reads Akof the `file (or files) and }s ks that +(or don't +) a ed . is of &s. It pbe surrounded by quotes (ie, ""). /V }s ks that DON'T +the (reVerse find). /C }s ya Count of oing ks (not the k). /N }s a kwAoing k. The must oexactly (upper/lowercase is significant).) Es: FIND /N "getk(" myprog.c myprog.inc filel takes all the of a 1command and discards (/V) the ks: Volume in =... Directory of =... XX files X bytes free The resulting }(just the lof filenames plus a few blank ks) is sent to the file FILELIST.TXT /V | FIND /V "e" >allfiles.txt .s a )lof all files in all directories, filtering out all ks that don't +a filenameSee Also: 3s I/O   DOS Commands   N51 A The MORE FilterUses I/O to [d:][filespec Reads ks of `, sorts them alphabetically, and }s them in the sorted order. Uses the  collating . /R means to sort the file in Reverse-alphabetical order /+n means to key the sort on the Nth &of Ak.Es: SORT sorted.txt sorts the ks of the `file (UNSORTED.TXT) and .s the }file (SORTED.TXT). 1A: | SORT /+10 shows a lof the files on =A, sorted by I(/+10).See Also: 3s I/O  1  DOS Commands  ' y0M092ur$/0 $!6"S % %1% A% &The (filename) Command Fes a of DOS commands Ra file. See Files for a Toverview of files. See s for a lof commands.Use to:  simplify on-going procedures such as weekly 5ups  hide complex details of ing a , such as ing the correct directory an passing pre-defined arguments  automate repetitive jobs such as editing, compiling, and linking a in development Filename[.BAT] [[]...] All files must Zan Iof .BAT. You can .a file with a editor such as EDLIN or by copying ks of Rthe console to a file. See !and Files  Fe the commands in a file by Cing the file's filename at the DOS (you need no y the .BAT I). If the file is not in the /6directory DOS will the command (if ) to find it. You pCone or more s  the filename. Separate Awith a space, a comma, or a semicolon.E: edit myfile Fes the file named EDIT.BAT. In that file, Aoccurrence of '%1' will be d with the 'myfile'. Presumably, the Edit.Bat will +commands to Fe a editor or essor. See Running a \s: Copy your often-used files to a RAM Disk to speed them up. DOS 2.x users puse the Command command to allow one to Fe  ; DOS 3.3 s the CALL  for file nesting.See Also: s s  DOS Commands F13  1 A The CALL  Used within a file to Fe  file. that second is finished, ,resumes in the M, at the command directly Oing the CALL command. DOS 3.3  CALL [d:][]filename The ied filename must Gand must Za .BAT I. You need not ^e the Iin the CALL command. This call helps to simplify complex files by letting you write es to break up the logic fmanageable pieces. It lets you keep much tighter ,since Fion will   return to the M.Versions: This command is not prior to DOS 3.3 To get the  B(nesting of files), see the Command command.Es: CALL lotus Fes a file named LOTUS.BAT IF .%1. == .A. CALL c:accting if a test is true, Fe a vs: Don't use I/O with this command.See Also: s  DOS Commands +o: [5* n4,f0M 2 2[12 A2 3The ? lpt1 s the IBM dot-matrix to compressed mode v: ^O is Ced by pressing [Ctrl]+[O] ?^L >lpt1 forces the to do a formfeed (page-eject) ?astclock >>c:\autoexec.bat adds a command kto the end of the Autoexec.Bat file Use ?to send ,s to the console 9: ?[0;68;"1";13 (v: in Edlin use "?^V[." to echo an ESC &)See Also: s @  DOS Commands 3  $r&S"(S 2Z12V 5 515 A5 6The FOR  #s a DOS command to be repeated multiple times. On Arepeat, a variable gets to an item in a ied l. FOR %%x IN (l) DO command    variable ion DOS command to Fe Atime name l x is a letter (A-Z). It must be preceded by two percent signs; eg, %%A. Uppercase is the as lowercase. l is a of s, separated by commas or spaces. The parentheses are d. A wildcard filespec works like a lof all filenames that othe wildcard. command is DOS command or name except a FOR command. For Aitem in the 'l' (or for Aoing file of a wildcard filespec), the variable %%x takes on the of that item the command is Fed. The idea is to use %%x in the 'command' to modify the command action on Arepetition.Es: FOR %%d IN (a,c,d) DO dir %%d:*.* FOR %f in (*.*) DO erase c:\%f 7s files Rthe root of =C that also Gin the /directory. You can use this  you accidentally use !*.* to the wrong directory. The SHIFT in conjuction with GOTO s an  ive way to iteratively s.See Also: s   DOS Commands @oW  1 A The GOTO  #s DOS to begin Fing a :of the file. Use to repeatedly Fe a of commands or (in conjunction with the IF ) to *ally skip a of a file. GOTO k_label Fion of the file res at the file kthat +s the k_label. The k_label must with a colon and must be the Mthing on the k. !ĿEs: :AGAIN this is the k_label echo Press "to stop! this is Fed Atime GOTO AGAIN this #s the to loop ! $Ŀ IF "%1"=="" GOTO badParm Check for valid syntax echo ing file %1 ... OK, do the ...  .   :  GOTO allDone  :badParm  echo You must supply a ! user error :allDone  $See Also: s  DOS Commands o: " 11.1$1--199S? w M MV1M AM NThe IF  #s a command to be Fed or skipped, depending upon one of three *s. IF [NOT] EXIST filespec command or IF [NOT] 1 == 2 command or IF [NOT] @exit_num command  * The NOT modifier ies that the 'command' is to be Fed if the '*' is false.  'EXIST filespec' is true a file with the filename and IGs on the ied (or 6) =. A wildcard in the filespec ns the *true if  file oes the wildcard. v: DOS 2.x can't handle names here; DOS 3.x can. '1 == 2' is true 1 and 2 are identical. This test is case-sensitive: 'ABC' does not o'abc'. '@exit_num' is true the last that was Fed has an exit 'of 'exit_num' or higher. The 'command' can be DOS command, file, or name.Es: IF NOT EXIST d:bascom.com copy c:\basic\bascom.com d: copies BAS . to =D, but yif it's not there already IF %1 == LTRS chdir c:\\ltrs IF %1 == ltrs chdir c:\\ltrs s the 6directory to \\LTRS if the M is "LTRS" or "ltrs". c:\*.* a: /s IF @3 goto TROUBLE if the command terminates with an exit 'of 3 or higher, ,will branch to the label :TROUBLE IF @3 IF NOT @4 echo Error #3 occurred IF @4 IF NOT @5 echo Error #4 occurred by nesting IFs, you can determine the exact error w.\s: The 'NOT @exit_num' *is true the / @is less than exit_num.   The Oing DOS commands an @can be tested:   L   The '1 == 2' *#s a syntax error if either is blank. Avoid this by enclosing both s with quotes: IF "%1" == "Bill" ?Hello William! IF "%1" == "" ?Hello, whoever you are! The DOS 3.3 CALL command ns this more flexible; you can Fe a file then return to the kOing the IF command. IF "%1" == "Bill" CALL login %1 You can use Dvariables to help ,flow: SET USER=TOMMY . : IF NOT %USER% == "DAN" GOTO jack . : :jack IF NOT %USER% == "JACK" GOTO jane . : :janeSee Also: s GOTO  DOS Commands +o3 T  1 A The PAUSE  >Config.Sys Newly- configuration commands will take By you reDOS.N DOS Configuration ?  DOS Commands , \@p^_` a  b c+ B  d-1Ye= w D- A Config.Sys Commands These commands are used in the Config.Sys file. %s to the Config.Sys file will take Byou reDOS. BREAK= s the level of DOS "testing BUFFERS= s the wof DOS disk I/O s COUNTRY= s time and date Q, collating , etc. used by DOS 0 installs a DOS 9=r DRIVPARM= (undocumented) modifies a DOS-internal 9=r FCBS= s maximum wof con/ly-opened FCBs for file sharing FILES= s the wof "file handles"  INSTALL= loads RAM-resident s ( TSRs ) fqfor DOS 4.0 i s the =ID limit for the command REM #s a Config.Sys kto be ignored SHELL= installs a high-level command e; s Dsize STACKS= fixes a with simultaneous interrupts SWITCHES= ns pretend an old-style gis attached DOS 4.0 - DOS Configuration DOS Commands : ' n 1 A BREAK=  s the level of DOS "testing. Use this command to be able to abort s manually  would otherwise need to be Fed to completion. For a, it pbe advantageous to be able to abort Ra compiler as soon as you recognize the of an error. BREAK=ON or BREAK=OFF The Bcan be achieved by Cing the BREAK ON command at the DOS or in your file.N DOS Configuration  DOS Commands , '(') 1) A) *BUFFERS=  s the wof disk s DOS will allocate. Used to n$disk-intensive zs perform faster. Exceeding the 6s will increase the resident size of DOS.DOS 4.0: Users of DOS 4.0 refer to BUFFERS= 4.0  BUFFERS=xx 'xx' is the requested wof s, R2 to 99. The 6(there is no BUFFERS= command) is 2. an requests disk 5(even 1 byte), DOS reads 512 bytes fa . It then s the requested wof bytes to the . If the next request is for 5Rthe  512-byte sector, then DOS does not need to go to the disk. It simply s the 5Rthe . By increasing the wof disk s, you increase the chance that DOS will be able to avoid disk , thus increasing the overall speed of disk zs. Auses up  K of RAM. Furthermore, too m s will actually DEGRADE the speed of disk as DOS has to spend more and more time checking the status of A. There is a serious slowdown you get up to 50 s. Here are suggested tings for the BUFFERS= command: IBM PS/2 (Models 50-80)  BUFFERS= 32 IBM AT with 20M or 30M Ydisk BUFFERS= 32 IBM XT with 10M Ydisk  BUFFERS= 16 IBM PC (Ndisks y)  BUFFERS= 4 If you Za disk-intensive 5base , you  experiment with this command to find the point that gives you fastest to your 5. Also, it is advantageous to Za lot of s you Zan extensive directory tree; it allows less reading of directory sectors. The DOS 3.3 command Kcan help in this regard.N DOS Configuration  DOS Commands   y f h)  i?  j k B  1 A 0 Adds DOS for a physical (Yware) 9. Use to install a 9=r fDOS. 0[d:]filespec The filespec _s the name of the machine-jfile that +s the 'for the 9. This 'file usually has an Iof .SYS or .BIN and the file is usually (but not necessarily) +ed in the root directory.See Also: The Ansi.Sys =r  Hgand screen Ss The Vdisk.Sys =r  DOS RAM disk  The =r.Sys =r  add a 3rd =; .a N The <.Sys =r EGA/LCD font-switching =r The .Sys =r IBM downloadable fonts The Xma2ems.Sys =r eXpanded Mem Adapter for LIM EMS boards The Xmaem.Sys =r  eXpanded qAdapter EMulator (386s)N DOS Configuration  DOS Commands ? i2`#2 i4 4 i14 A4 5DRIVPARM=  Modifies the tings of a DOS-internal 9=r to force it to non-diskette =s. Use to force DOS to treat =B as a 720K (3-inch) disk =. @ĿWARNING! This Config.Sys command has never been documented by IBM (ie,  for "PC-DOS") even though it has been documented for generic  MS-DOS. PC-DOS versions 3.2 and 3.3 appear to DRIVPARM. However, there pbe s with it. See =r.Sys  for the "blessed" way to add for a 720K or other =. @ DRIVPARM= /D:drv_no [/T:trks] [/S:sects] [/H:hds] [/C] [/N] [/F:n] This overrides the internal tings for a ied 9=r. /D:drv_no is the logical =w(d ) (0=A, 1=B, 2=C, etc.) /T:trks ies the wof Tracks per side (6=80) /S:sects ies the wof Sectors per track (6=9) /H:hds ies the wof Heads (6=2) /C _s that "%k" is d (for AT and Convertible sense disk is swapped) /N ies that the 9is Non-removable (fixed disk) /F:n ies a ="Form factor" index (6=2): 0 = 160/180K Q(single-sided) 0 = 320/360K Q(double-sided) 1 = 1.2M high-capacity = 2 = 720K (3- inch) Q 7 = otherEs: DRIVPARM=/D:1 tells DOS that you Z a 720K diskette =to your  as =B (all 6s are for that size =). Commands to read/write/Q/diskcopy =B will now work as expected.vs: It is unwise to EVER use an undocumented command. Since it is undocumented, there is a chance of [bugs; for a, 2!or 2 P pmalS. Furthermore, there pbe dangerous ramification to ying a Ydisk as 'drv_no'. The arguments in favor of this command go as Os: "DRIVPARM saves me 192 bytes of RAM and I get to call my 720K ='=B' instead of '=D'. I am a hacker and prefer to walk on dangerous Wbe#it gives me a thrill. I am smarter than the fools at IBM and my disk 5has no ." The documented (and therefore correct) way to add a non- =is to use 0 =r.Sys N DOS Configuration =r.Sys  DOS Commands  1 A FILES=  s the wof files that pbe opened at the time. Exceeding the 6s will increase the resident size of DOS. FILES=xx 'xx' is R5 to 99. The 6(there is no FILES= command) is 8. You use this command a _s that there are not enough "file handles" to operate. Never the  below 6 be#that #s unusual s with Land other s. Ms that there be 20 file handles .E: FILES=20N DOS Configuration  DOS Commands B. w, }= y  ' 5 B"?4 7! w/p@/ \2 12 A2 3INSTALL=  Loads and Fes a TSR (RAM-resident ) DOS 4.0 yUse to:  Give your favorite TSR a chance at stealing interrupt vectors gets loaded  Avoid qloss due to DOS Dduplication  Hide installation of -level s such as SHARE and tin the "permanent" Config.Sys file, rather than loading them in the semi-transitory (often-edited) Autoexec.Bat file. INSTALL=[d:][\]progname.ext parms%  You must y both the filename and its Ialong with s d by the . The Oing DOS 4.0 s pbe loaded INSTALL= K.EXE KEYB. t.EXE SHARE.EXE  There appears to be no with installing non-IBM, TSRs E: INSTALL=c:\dos40\fastopen.exe c:(200,300) /X Fes and installs fast-open for =C:,  eXpanded q. See K INSTALL=c:\help\help.exe /p /m=c:\help\dos40.h! installs DOS Help! in permanent (/P) RAM-resident mode and  the DOS40.H! file as the 6manual (/M). See HELP  INSTALL=c:\utils\borland\sidekick.com installs a called SIDEKICK. \s: There is subtle technical reason for this instead of installing via Autoexec.Bat: The MTSR Fed   "locks-in" the size of the DOS Dand it and all subsequent TSRs get a copy of that much RAM. Thus, Autoexec.Bat, you Zto pick wasting a lot of RAM or running out of Dspace. By installing via Config.Sys, ATSR uses the minimum DRAM and the DOS Darea can grow as large as you want. The must be a TSR to avoid an error r, though it pwork way. Don't try to INSTALL a file is not directly Fable (eg, a .BAT or file). It is to get fa tricky if you na mistake with this command. The yway to rectify the error would be to Ra Ndisk, then edit your Config.Sys  on the Ydisk and re.N DOS Configuration  DOS Commands 51 1 A i s the limit for =IDs usable by the command. id 'd' is a single letter RA to Z The 6(there is no icommand) is E. You use this command if you intend to nextensive use of the command.Es: ig this allows to accept =IDs A,B,C,D,E,F, and G iz this lets you use mnemonic =IDs such as W: for word ing.N DOS Configuration  DOS Commands   w w; n=  1 A SHELL=  s the ucommand e() with a :. This is most often used to up a DOS Dthat is larger than the u6. SHELL=[d:]filespec [parms] As the last step in the , DOS loads and Fes the high-level command e()  W) 8 no <(P= W) 30 BLACK P 40 BLACK W 31 RED P 41 RED W 32 GREEN P 42 GREEN W 33 YELLOW P 43 YELLOW W 34 BLUE P 44 BLUE W 35 MAGENTA P 45 MAGENTA W 36 CYAN P 46 CYAN W 37 WHITE P 47 WHITE W [=modeh s screen width and mode where mode s are: 0 40x25 mode black and white 1 40x25 mode color 2 80x25 mode black and white 3 80x25 mode color 4 320x200 Vmode color 5 320x200 Vmode black and white 6 640x200 Vmode black and white 7 Wrap past end of k Ŀ 14 640 x 200 Vmode color  15 640 x 350 Vmode monochrome DOS 4.0  16 640 x 350 Vmode color  17 640 x 480 Vmode color  um;num...nump redefines a hso it yields :s. or The Mnum (or M&of ) is [""p the key being redefined. The Oing s are or the new for the key. um;""p The Oing redefines Ctrl-D key to be: 1C: or various [4;"1C:";13p combinations $hs must be defined with two nums. For E, [F1] is 0;59 (F2 is 0;60, F3 is 0,61, etc.) [Home] is 0;71 The Oing redefines the F10 key to be: 1 [0;68;"1";13p These two-'keys are known as Hand are led in an appendix of the manual. M of the Hhs othe s led in Scan 's For a, the scan ' for Z is 44; to redefine Alt-Z, use: [0;44;"hi there"p v: To rea key to its |, use its num '(s) twice. This res [F10]:$  5 It is difficult to experiment with these s since DOS does not allow direct g`of the ESC &. Here are things to try: use the command to }an ESC to the console. For a: $e[7m s up to  &. REM TESTANSI.BAT file to test (.d with EDLIN) ?off ?^V[[7m This is reverse ^V[[0m this is uN DOS Configuration  DOS Commands +, < \? >`0 \B14 n845o? 1? A? @The V2.SYS =r This is a installable 9=r for a RAM disk comes with DOS 2.10 and later. It .s a "virtual disk =" for temporary storage.DOS 4.0: Users of DOS 4.0 refer to Vdisk.Sys 4.0 Use it:  for high-speed loading of s and 5files  to Hq(above 1 Megabyte) on 80286-based PCs  to soak up extra qon your expanded qEMS board Use this statement in your Config.Sys file to install the =r: 0[d:][]V2.SYS [kbytes] [sec_size] [dir_size] [/E] where: [d:][] is the directory where the file V2.SYS can be found kbytes is the total size of the RAM disk in K-bytes (6=64) sec_size is the size of disk sectors: 128, 256, or 512 (bytes) (6=128, use 512 for fastest performance) dir_size is the wof directory entries in the root directory 2 to 512. (6=64) /E[:sects] ies to put the RAM disk in Hq(for ATs and (s with qabove 1 Megabyte) /X[:sects] ies to put the RAM disk in eXpanded EMS q. This can be used yon s with a LIM-( EMS qboard installed. v: Xma2ems.Sys must be installed, via 0in an earlier kof your Config.Sys file. sects (for /E and /X) s a maximum wof sectors to be red at a time (1-8, 6=8). Use a small to avoid 5loss with modem s. The RAM disk is given a =ID of a letter that is one notch higher that the ly-highest =ID. You pinstall two or more RAM disks by the 0V2.SYS command more than once in your Config.Sys file.Es: 0vdisk.sys 30 (.s 30K RAM disk; 128-byte sectors) 0vdisk.sys 200 256 (RAM disk is 200K, with 256-byte sectors) 0vdisk.sys 1536 /e (1.5 Megabyte RAM disk for 286-based PCs) 0xma2ems.sys FRAME=D000 P254=C000 (install EMS =r) 0vdisk.sys 1024 /X (install 1M EMS-based RAM disk)\s: Use your Autoexec.Bat file to copy often-used Jcommands and ely files to your RAM disk. ever an (such as a compiler) es two files simultaneously, place at least one of those files on the RAM disk to avoid "disk thrashing". Avoid placing 'and other valuable files on a RAM disk. If the power fails or you forget to copy the files to a physical disk, you will lose your work.N DOS Configuration  DOS Commands *: \-&. a::=C`H aL 1L AL MThe DRIVER.SYS =r This installable 9=r .s a Nis handy with $Yware configurations. This =r comes with DOS 3.2 and later Use this you:  add an J720K, 3-1/2 inch =to a PC, XT, or AT  want  convenience for working with 1.2M floppies  want to associate two =IDs with the = Use this statement in your Config.Sys file to install the =r: 0DRIVER.SYS /D:pdrv [/T:trks] [/S:sects] [/H:hds] [/C] [/N] [/F:n] where: /D:pdrv is the physical wof the =(d ) 0 = Mdiskette =(aka A:) 1 = second diskette =(aka B:) 2 = third diskette =(the MJ=) /T:trks ies the wof Tracks per side (6=80) /S:sects ies the wof Sectors per track (6=9) /H:hds ies the wof Heads (6=2) /C _s that "%k" is d (for =s can sense disk is d) /F:n ies a ="Form factor" (type ID): 0 = 160/180K Q(single-sided) 0 = 320/360K Q(double-sided) 1 = 1.2M high-capacity = 2 = 720K (3-1/2 inch) Q 7 = 1.44M (3-1/2 inch) Qor others. DOS has  had s you add an Jdiskette =. The diskette =,lers for up to 4 =s, but you Za Ydisk as =C, DOS ignores the third diskette =. This =r lets you add IBM-ed =s in a variety of configurations. Plus, it s Ncapabilities.Es: 0DRIVER.SYS /D:1 /F:2 tells DOS that you Z a 720K diskette =to your  (all 6s are for that size =). Its =ID will be one notch higher than your ly highest =letter. For E, in a with one diskette (A:) and a Ydisk (C:), this command adds a 720K diskette =as =D. See DRIVPARM= for an undocumented way to install this as =B. 0DRIVER.SYS /D:2 0DRIVER.SYS /D:2 These two commands add a physical =and a logical =to your as the highest two =s (typically =s D: and E:). This s a way to copy files : diskettes on the physical =. A command such as !D:myfile.txt E: will #DOS to you to "insert diskette for =E:" so you can !or 2!directly two 3-1/2 inch disks. 0DRIVER.SYS /D:0 /T:80 /S:15 /H:2 /C /F:1 is useful on an AT that has a 1.2M =as =A and a 360K =as =B. This .s a new highest =(eg, =D) will refer to physical diskette =0 (the 1.2M =). You can use the "new" =D in N-to-Nfile copying.\s: The =letters that DOS assigns are determined by the order in the 0commands appear in the Config.Sys file. If you install a RAM disk M(0V2.SYS), then the J and/or floppies installed with this command will Z higher =letters. The undocumented DRIVPARM= command pbe preferable in cases. It lets you %the s of an Ging (DOS-internal) 9=r, installing a new 9=r.N DOS Configuration  DOS Commands :F#   \&#& n, ,,#&,1, A, -The DISPLAY.SYS =r This installable 9=r works in conjunction with tand m to 'page font switching for EGA, VGA, and LCD _ then =A is the 6=. You pa :6=by Cing the =ID (^ing a colon) as if it were a DOS command. For a, the command: A> C: %s the 6to =C and the %s to C>_N CH1 JOIN   DOS Commands  0*(' 1 A D An area in q+ing ual ]ible to s. Use the SET command to install ks fthe DOS Dand to  , 0p1 A RAM and ROMĿ RAM Random q qthat holds s and 5while the computer is running. you turn your computer off, all 5in RAM is lost. RAM is usually described in "Ks" or "K-bytes". One K is 1024 bytes. The PC is able to 1 Megabyte (1,024K), but be#of limitations of both PC-DOS and the PC's Yware, you can yZ640K of RAM on a PC. Use the command to see a summary of RAM availability on your . You can go beyond the 640K barrier by getting an "expanded" qboard. This allows you to .larger spreadsheets and/or a large RAM disk "Hq" is qabove 1M on an AT You can use it for a RAM disk.Ŀ ROM Read-yq qthat retains its even  the PC is turned off. ROM holds the s that handle all low-level `and }zs, , and the 'that s DOS you turn thecomputer on.N1  DOS Commands `4 \#h / p1 A RAM Disk A ly-, adds a 'virtual disk =' a q- resident disk =emulator to your . It s a 'scratch disk' for rapid reading and writing of files. Install a RAM disk with the 0command of the CONFIG.SYS file. DOS 3.x ^es a RAM disk. See The V2.SYS =r topic. A RAM-Disk takes qaway Ryour s, unless you Z an AT with Hq, or an "expanded" qcard. All RAM-disks Zthe drawthat you reor turn the computer off, all files in the disk are lost. Be careful to copy important files  to a physical disk if you want to save %s.N1  DOS Commands 3 w ) *R +01- A- .able s files pbe to ^e able s can be defined by the user the is Fed. This ns it to .flexible and reusable files. These able s are in the form %N, where N is R0 to 9. As the commands are Fed, Aoccurrence of %N is d by the corresponding Rthe command k. For E, in a file named MYBATCH.BAT +ing the two ks: BAS %1.bas; LINK %1.bas,,%2; you Fe the DOS command: C>myAAA BBB A%1 is d with AAA and A%2 is d with BBB like so: BAS AAA.bas; LINK AAA.bas,,BBB; The %0 takes on the of the filename was used to  the file. It +s the =,,and Iyif you typed them you ed the . Ŀ DVariables DOS lets you HELP copy  will d disk as "Best of DOS Help!" and store the |in a safe place. To run Help!, put the diskette in =A: and type: HELP Ŀ YDisk s It is easiest to copy the Help! files to your Ydisk in the directory that you Zyour DOS s; ie, in a directory that is already on your DOS command  Let's assume you Za such a directory named C:\DOS. To install Help!, put The Best of DOS Help! diskette in =A and type: !A:*.* C:\DOS  Now you can run The Best of DOS Help! by typing: HELP Ŀ Configuring Colors & {s you press [F7], you get a menu of color, monitor-,, and {s. your favorite colors, other {s, and save them to disk. Composite Monitor: If you Za one-color composite monitor attached to a color/Vcard be sure to the "composite monitor" { to YES, go to the "colors" menu and choose a readable combination. Video Snow: If you Zan EGA or a non-IBM color/Vcard  DOES NOT <"video snow" then you can ",video snow" to NO. This will nHelp! <faster. EGA Smearing: EGA monitors lack the bandwidth to correctly < a border. If your screen looks oddly lighter on one side, you  "colors" and the overscan (border) color to black. ( }: Ms }garbage for &s 128-255 (for a'' comes out as italics 'M'), so you press [F4] to a page, Help! converts (filters) these &s f dashes, asterisks, etc. If your IS able to these IBM high- bit &s, then you "use filter" to NO. The [F7] up {s modify a few bytes at the of a Help! manual. If you ZHelp! manuals, you pwant to a :of colors for Amanual. Remember to SAVE YOUR SETUP  changing thing.& !Ŀ Power User Installation {s Here are installation {s for! experienced users of DOS: Use MK1to .a \HELP directory and then add that directory to your command ie, modify the PATH command of your Autoexec.Bat Put the Help! files fdirectory you want, then .a file like this: @REM DosHelp.Bat s HELP, making sure it finds its 5base @REM accepts one (eg, DOSHELP !) @ c:\the_help_dir\HELP %1 /M=c:\the_help_dir\BESTODOS.H! See Help! Syntax for an explanation of the /M {and other {s. Store a HELPPATH variable in the DOS Dlike so: SET help=c:\the_help_dir This will #the Help! =r to examine the \HELP_1directory for and all files that Zan Iof ".H!" See DOS Help! TECH Help! and the x: HyperAuthoring  for ] other Flambeaux Help! products.Ŀ Finding Help! Manuals If you Zmore than one Flambeaux Help! product, or if you Z.d your own custom manuals with x: HyperAuthoring you will need to know how HELP locates its 5base manuals (press [F6] now to see the lof manuals it found it ed this time). HELP Os these steps: 1. It looks in the /6directory in the 6= 2. It looks in the DOS Dfor a kin the form: HELPPATH=d:\your_help_dir and tries to find .H! file in the ied =and directory. 3. It looks in Adirectory led in the DOS command  4. A.H! file is examined to nsure that it is in the compressed and cross-referenced Qd by the Help!  # 5# A# $Popup Help! Help! works as a regular or as a RAM-resident TSR popup. Popup mode is handy you use EDLIN or DEBUG and s an Table To nHelp! resident, use HELP /X or HELP /P. Refer to Help! Syntax    2Ŀ WARNING! You not trust TSR , ^ing  DOS Help! used in the popup mode, until you  Zthoroughly tested it with all the other  s that pbe resident at the time.  2 DOS was not designed to do more than one thing at a time. TSR s are a clever way to get around this limitation. Usually TSRs are well beZd and do what is expected of them. times, however, they interact with other s producing unexpected and usually undesirable results. This occurs most commytwo or more TSRs don't get along with Aother but it can also occur with a single TSR operating under a u. In TSR mode: Use Alt-H or Alt-L to popup Help! (HELP /K=nn,nn lets you use other keys)  Alt-H pops up the most recently-viewed page of   Alt-L es the "DOS Commands" page for the word at your cursor; Eg, A> Q (Now press Alt-L to lookup "The LCommand" page.) Help! pops up properly in a screen. Don't pop it up while running a V-mode . The Help! =r must  be able to find its 5file. For diskette- based s, this means that once Help! is installed in q, you must nsure the Help! diskette is in its =ever you pop it up. All exits F9, F10, or Esc (Rthe Main Menu) restore the screen.N Help! Syntax( Main Menu DOS Commands +, 7p? * 0?3 @7; o'NR#UCU5` A` aThe HELP Commands syntax summaries, clear explanations, and useful Es of all DOS commands. s the PC-DOS User Manual. ns you an instant expert, etc. This is the Jcommand that IBM forgot!Q: HELP [topic] [/M=d:\\helpfile.H!] or HELP [/M=d:\\file.H!] [/K=nn[,nn]] /P or HELP [/M=d:\\file.H!] [/K=nn[,nn]] /X[=progname [progparms]]uusage is simply: HELP (for cbrowsing) or HELP 'topic' (to quickly locate a icular DOS topic). topic is keyword found on the DOS Commands menu. You need ytype enough of 'topic' to nit unique (ie, BAC would bring up the command; FORM brings up L. If 'topic' is present, /X, /P, and /K are ignored. /M= overrides the =, , and filename of the 6Manual file. If x, HELP s the M.H! it finds. Be sure to give a full =:\\filename with his {. /M lets you y manual is to be ;M, regardless of the order in HELP locates them in your directories. In case, all other Help! manuals are led and in the [F6] Manual Menu. /P= ns Help! a Permanently RAM-resident TSR . You must reDOS to deactivate Help! and free up the qit uses. Use /X if you want to remove Help! Rqlater. Be sure to read the warning notice TSR use under Popup Help! if you are going to use the /P {. /K= s popup trigger Keys you wish to use instead of Alt-H and Alt-L. 'nn' is a 2-digit identifying a g scan '. The M'nn' s an  ive for Alt-H (popup page) and the second 'nn' s an  ive for Alt-L (lookup word). /K is ignored unless the /X or /P {is ed. v: A scan 'is NOT the as an . Refer to Scan 's for a lof 'nn' s you can use with /K. In case, the ed key is shifted with [Alt]. Also, [Ctrl]-[Left Shift], will also popup Help!. To disable one or both keys, use an invalid '(eg, 99). /X= s eXec TSR mode: HELP loads fq, and the  'progname' is Fed. Upon exiting Rthat , all qused by HELP is free for other s. Be sure to read the warning notice TSR use under Popup Help! if you are going to use the /X {. If you omit '=progname' or use /X=DOS, then DOS is activated and at the touch of the hot key. Use EXIT to deactivate Help! and free up the qit occupies. /X must be the final on the HELP command k. If used in a file it must be the final command in the file. To avoid this irritation, use /P, instead. The Help! =r es the disk Anew topic page is ed. Therefore, the /X or /P {is used, the =r must be able to locate its 5file Atime it is popped up.   If popup HELP is Fed Ra diskette, be sure to keep that diskette in the =.Es: HELP s Help! for cbrowsing. It is not made resident. HELP up s Help! and immediately turns to "The Command" page. If you use [F10] to exit, the help will remain on the screen you return to DOS. Help! is not made resident. HELP /M=c:\help\tech.h! /X installs Help! in the eXec TSR mode. Help! uses the 5file TECH.H! resides in the directory \HELP on =C. Since no '=progname' is used with /X, you end up at DOS. The Alt-H h(by 6) will popup Help!. The DOS command EXIT will terminate Help! and free its q. HELP /K=83,99 /X installs Help! in eXec TSR mode, returning to DOS (use EXIT to deactivate). The Alt-Ins hpops up Help! to the most recently-viewed page. The Alt-L auto-lookup feature is disabled. HELP /X=edit myfile.txt s Help! s a named EDIT.EXE, EDIT. , or a file named EDIT.BAT. The 'myfile.txt' is passed to EDIT as its M. Popup Help! is (via Alt-H or Alt-L) while you run EDIT and it is removed Rq EDIT terminates.N5 Main Menu DOS Commands X6$%$..$44$8$"<$/@$(#.+2;23%3!,343;34 h7&71;-';9==!=)=1= ;=e? i#AD#DS)D/D9DBDSHD[GG3HIJ,J K.L9L x"N j/N kT T U_U h+U <V?&VKYZ]I`?@`ac5a \b e :fgh <%hij =l >6lm@rY)r \s G/s {t wH{9p%p 2-{%-0 1 A DOS Versions As IBM releases new equipment, it Tly releases a new version of DOS to that equipment. The version wis in three s: major_release . minor_revision [kludge_fix] For a, DOS 2.0 is very :R1.1, but very similar to 2.1. Version 4.01 Gs yto fix 4.0 and has no new features. You can use the VER command to find out what version you are operating. In DOS Help!, commands that are new or Z%d the various versions are plainly marked: 2.x  yDOS 2.0 or 2.1 3.x  DOS 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, or 3.3 3.1+  (and similar references) The command (or %) s with that version and continues through higher-wed versions. 4.0  implies DOS version 4.01, the MSal version. In "The Best of DOS Help!", this tag means that the command is new OR has %d since DOS 3.3. The Oing describes the most important differences DOS versions: Ŀ DOS 1.00 Came out the PC was introduced. CP/M-like but for the 8088. ed 1-sided, 8-sector, 160K diskette =s y. Ŀ DOS 1.05 Bug-fixer; a collector's item.  Ŀ DOS 1.10 Was for over a year.  for 2-sided, 8-sector, 320K diskette =s. Ŀ DOS 2.00 Major revision. Introduced with the IBM XT.  for 10M Ydisk.  9-sector (360K) capability to 2-sided =s.  UNIX-like tree-d directory .  concept of I/O and re-direction + 3s  commands:   TREE CD MD RD PATH etc.  flexibility for files: GOTO, IF, ?, etc.  the ability to install non-IBM 9=rs. Improved with HVcommands, I/O .  Wspooling with the ~command. Ŀ DOS 2.10 Released with the PCjr. Basically version 2.00 with for plug-in cartridges and the PCjr's half-height diskette =s. Fixed Ging bugs in DOS. Ŀ DOS 3.00 Released with the IBM AT  Lets you run a by ying a in the filename.  for 20M Ydisk.  for 'high capacity' 1.2M disk =s  dfeatures: SELECT KEYBxx COUNTRY=   commands:  LABEL SELECT SHARE GRAFTABL   the V2.SYS RAM disk Ŀ DOS 3.10 Network and fixed bugs.  commands: JOIN and  Ŀ DOS 3.20 Released with the IBM Convertible  for 720K =s (3-" Y-shell diskettes)  commands:   Enhanced commands:   L SELECT GRAPHICS SHELL=  Made it difficult to accidentally Qa Ydisk.  the DRIVER.SYS to ,non-and logical =s Ŀ DOS 3.30 Released with the IBM PS/2 kand (with all PCs.  for 1.44M 3-" diskettes. New commands:  CALL CHCP K t CALL @  Improved commands: DATE and TIME the battery-powered clock on AT and PS/2. spans subdirectories. is faster and will Qdiskettes on-the-fly. F2s multiple DOS itions on a Ydisk. allows ion by time and date of modification. supplies @indication for use in files. New 9=rs: DISPLAY.SYS ~ER.SYS  Ŀ DOS 4.00 Released intially by IBM y, with a subsequent release of "generic" MS-DOS by Microsoft. Adds for EMS (expanded q) to DOS features: Xma2ems.Sys and Xmaem.Sys are 9=rs for EMS BUFFERS= V2.SYS and K4.0 can use EMS q MEM (new command) and DEBUG EMS s larger Ydisks: F2 lets you .itions larger than 32 Megabytes. SHARE must be installed to large ition. s a graphical, cuser interface: DosShell Fes the interface . New commands: MEM s summary of qusage, ^ing EMS  INSTALL= lets you load TSRs in your Config.Sys file SWITCHES= emulates an old-style g Improved commands: 4.0 can locate or ignore .EXE, . . and .BAT files summarizes allocation unit usage ERASE /P lets you OK Adeletion of a wildcard filespec K4.0 /X uses EMS qfor storing 5addresses F2.s trans-32M itions L4.0 ally s for label; =ID d (v: puts label & win sector) GRAPHICS 4.0 lets you define a custom Profile file m4.0 is massivley %d (for the better): 43- and 50-kscreen modes are ed s grepeat rate  52 Home [7] 71 2 @ 03 R 19 J 36 / ? 53  [8] 72 3 # 04 T 20 K 37 spacebar 57 PgUp [9] 73 4 $ 05 Y 21 L 38 CapsLock 58 (grey) - 74 5 % 06 U 22 ; : 39 F1 59  [4] 75 6 ^ 07 I 23 " ' 40 F2 60  [5] 76 7 & 08 O 24 ~ ` 41 F3 61  [6] 77 8 * 09 P 25 \ | 43 F4 62 (grey) + 78 9 ( 10 [ { 26 Z 44 F5 63 End [1] 79 0 ) 11 ] } 27 X 45 F6 64  [2] 80 - _ 12 C 28 C 46 F7 65 PgDn [3] 81 + = 13 A 30 V 47 F8 66 Ins [0] 82 bkspc 14 S 31 B 48 F9 67 Del [.] 83 Tab 15 D 32 N 49 F10 68 F11 87 Q 16 F 33 M 50 NumLock 69 F12 88 v: Remember that Help! s that you press and hold the key while pressing the ed trigger key. Es: The Oing Es Help! in a popup eXec mode and s Alt-! for upopup and Alt-Ins for auto-lookup popup: help /k=02,82 /x The next Es Help! Alt-spacebar for upopup and disables the auto-lookup trigger by ying a non-key (99): help /k=57,99 /xN Help! Syntax Popup Help! Installing Help! Main Menu 'p< 4M@M;Cdie \utils\*.bat (you Ca bad command: you meant 1) A>1[F3] (reuse the "\utils\*.bat" Rthe template) D>copy \wp\memos\dan5-27.doc B: (file not found: file is on =C) D>![Ins]c:[F3] (insert "C:" - saves retyping a filename) C>dir abc*.* (get a lof files that othe wildcard ) C>DEL [F3] (the lis correct; go ahead and 7them) C>dir \lotus\587.wks (file not found; it must be a .WK1 file) C>[F3][-]1 (reuse command, but %last "S" to "1"N1  DOS Commands D} ~Table Chr Nam Ct Dec Hx Chr Nam Ct Dec Hx Chr Nam Ct Dec Hx Chr Nam Ct Dec Hx     NUL^@ 000  BS^H 808  DLE^P 1610  CAN^X 2418   SOH^A 101 TAB^I 909  DC1^Q 1711  EM^Y 2519   STX^B 202 LF^J 100a  DC2^R 1812  SUB^Z 261a   ETX^C 303 VT^K 110b  DC3^S 1913  ESC^[ 271b   EOT^D 404 FF^L 120c  DC4^T 2014  FS^\ 281c   ENQ^E 505 CR^M 130d  NAK^U 2115  GS^] 291d   ACK^F 606  SO^N 140e  SYN^V 2216  RS^^ 301e   BEL^G 707  SI^O 150f  ETB^W 2317  US^_ 311f                 3220 ( 4028 0 4830 8 5638 @ 6440 H 7248       ! 3321 ) 4129 1 4931 9 5739 A 6541 I 7349       " 3422 * 422a 2 5032 : 583a B 6642 J 744a       # 3523 + 432b 3 5133 ; 593b C 6743 K 754b       $ 3624 , 442c 4 5234 < 603c D 6844 L 764c       % 3725 - 452d 5 5335 = 613d E 6945 M 774d       & 3826 . 462e 6 5436 > 623e F 7046 N 784e       ' 3927 / 472f 7 5537 ? 633f G 7147 O 794f                   P 8050 X 8858 ` 9660 h 10468 p 11270 x 12078       Q 8151 Y 8959 a 9761 i 10569 q 11371 y 12179       R 8252 Z 905a b 9862 j 1066a r 11472 z 1227a       S 8353 \ 925c c 9963 k 1076b s 11573 | 1247c       T 8454 [ 915b d 10064 l 1086c t 11674 { 1237b       U 8555 ] 935d e 10165 m 1096d u 11775 } 1257d       V 8656 ^ 945e f 10266 n 1106e v 11876 ~ 1267e       W 8757 _ 955f g 10367 o 1116f w 11977  1277f                   12880 13688 14490 15298 160a0 168a8       12981 13789 14591 15399 161a1 169a9       13082 1388a 14692 1549a 162a2 170aa       13183 1398b 14793 1559b 163a3 171ab       13284 1408c 14894 1569c 164a4 172ac       13385 1418d 14995 1579d 165a5 173ad       13486 1428e 15096 1589e 166a6 174ae       13587 1438f 15197 1599f 167a7 175af                   176b0 184b8 192c0 200c8 208d0 216d8       177b1 185b9 193c1 201c9 209d1 217d9       178b2 186ba 194c2 202ca 210d2 218da       179b3 187bb 195c3 203cb 211d3 219db       180b4 188bc 196c4 204cc 212d4 220dc       181b5 189bd 197c5 205cd 213d5 221dd       182b6 190be 198c6 206ce 214d6 222de       183b7 191bf 199c7 207cf 215d7 223df      5 Decimal  Hex      196 205 c4 cd 224e0 232e8 240f0 248f8 179 186 b3 ba  218 194 191 da c2 bf 225e1 233e9 241f1 249f9 195 197 180 c3 c5 b4  192 193 217 c0 c1 d9 226e2 234ea 242f2 250fa  201 203 187 c9 cb bb 227e3 235eb 243f3 251fb 204 206 185 cc ce b9  200 202 188 c8 ca bc 228e4 236ec 244f4 252fc  214 210 183 d6 d2 b7 229e5 237ed 245f5 253fd 199 215 182 c7 d7 b6  211 208 189 d3 d0 bd 230e6 238ee 246f6 254fe  213 209 184 d5 d1 b8 231e7 239ef 247f7 255ff 198 216 181 c6 d8 b5     212 207 190 d4 cf beND Main Menu   4 % Flambeaux  Flambeaux , Inc. 1147 E. Broadway, Suite #56 Glendale, CA 91205 Business Offices: (818)-500-0044# Fax: (818)-957-0194 Toll-free order k: 1-800-833-7355 x1233 Flambeaux was founded in 1985 by Jack Crone and Dan Rollins. Long hyperbecame an industry buzzword, Flambeaux was marketing DOS Help! with its unique of embedded cross references and had received awards for excellence Rthe Computer Press Association. / products ^e: DOS Help!  onktutorial and popup reference for DOS TECH Help!  hyper]refor mers x hyperauthoring (.and distribute Help! manuals like this one)N See the Instant Mail Order Form or call the Toll-Free Order kToll-Free Order k To order of the fine Flambeaux products, you can call: Ext 1233  (orders   y,   please) OR use the handy Instant Mail Order Form  Bͻ Your SATISFACTION is 100% GUARANTEED or you get your MONEY BACK.  Bͼ If you Zquestions, need technical , or are interested in site licensing or volume discounts, please contact the Flambeaux corporate business office: Flambeaux  1147 E. Broadway, Suite 56 Glendale, CA 91205 (818) 500-0044 Fax: (818) 957-0194CE, ! # 4$ $!$"$#$$67FDOS Help! Flambeaux 's DOS Help! is the UNABRIDGED version of the you are right now. The commercial version of DOS Help! was ed as: Ŀ Ŀ     PC Magazine ڴڿ¿'ڿ ÿڿڿڿ     August, 1988 >Ŀ "... full, flexible, and accurate DOS help. DOS Help! gives  you in-depth advice and real-world warnings you'll never get  RMicrosoft or IBM. It's the one help to own if  you're already a DOS expert - or want to become one."  > Most DOS users will be satisfied with this "Best of DOS Help!" promotional disk, since it +s )reference to the most commyused DOS commands. However, if you purchase the full package, you will get: Two large Help! hyper5bases:  DOS 1.0-3.3 s a historical perspective  DOS 4.0  covers DOS 4.0 y(no confversion references) A smaller Help! hyper5base +ing ythe most commyused commands. This very compact 5base is optimized for use on laptops and other diskette based s. The ), UNABRIDGED . In order to get "The Best of DOS Help!" to fit onto one diskette, we had to remove and abbreviate topics. The commercial version of DOS Help! +s:  Tutorial ]: "Ŀ Introduction to DOS As a DOS tutorial, DOS Help! is  Files and Filenames peer; the Computer Press  File Naming Rules Association has honored it TWICE  Keys with awards in the category of  Running a   "Best OnkTutorial." # "  All DOS configuration and installation topics  All DOS commands missing Rthis version Availability of low-cost future upgrades. DOS and the PC Yware keep evolving. DOS Help! will continue to evolve with it. "Best of DOS Help!" is a one-time-ypromotional product. The satisfaction of helping a small compto succeed with a new idea and an excellent product. An absence of this blatant advertising and warnings such as: 4Ŀ Please be reminded that although you received this  free with a paid subscription or renewal   to PC Computing,  4  "Best of DOS Help!" is NOT shareware, freeware,   nor is it in the public domain.  4͵ It is illegal to copy this except for the   purpose of creating an archival up.  4; If you want a friend or co-worker to share in the benefits of this invaluable re, the unabridged DOS Help! can be purchased for y:" $ 95# % %  Use the Instant Mail Order Form  OR simply call Flambeaux 's Toll-Free Order k!H eh# 6X"Y6\^_`abciTECH Help! Flambeaux Ŀ ڿ ڿ 's Ŀ   ĿĿڿ ڿ Ŀڿ Ŀڿ  ٳٳ ٳٳ Ŀ  Ŀ ٳ ĿĿ ٳ  Ŀ  ĿĿ ĿĿ ڿ    is a unique Onkming Reference for PC, XT, AT, PS/2 and clones.  It is ONLY for mers.: Ŀ If you don't do -level ming, press Esc now. Ŀ+ ; mers At last you can throw away those obsolete paper manuals! Free up desk space; put the equivalent of five thick technical manuals onto your screen, where you can pop them up instantly, while you write and debug your s. TECH Help! gives instant dox on: All DOS Ss and interrupts, ^ing DOS 4.0:  Registers on `; return s; side Bs  Sal Xings (see all file-handle Ss led on one page)  Cross-references to related tables and BIOS-level Ss  Undocumented Ss; quirks of various DOS versions; more! All ROM-BIOS services  EGA  VGA  new PS/2 services Every DOS and BIOS 5known to man:  PSP, FCB, EPB, MCB, BPB, FAT, all of 'em!  Disk sector; ition table; Hition table  Directory layout; File s; Pac+ed tile/date Q  'pages; -]; .CPI file layout  EXE file header; the notorious "Disk Info Block"  All 9=r packets; all IOCTL packets  CGA, EGA, and VGA Ss, 5areas, and I/O port usage  CMOS qusage v: Press [F4] to .a Ycopy reference, suitable for framing. Comprehensive I/O port map; EVERY BIT of EVERY PORT is documented Lotus/Intel/Microsoft Expanded qication (LIM-EMS 4.0) INT 33H Mouse Ss! Tables and charts you can't find together where else:  AT =types  Epson/IBM 's  ANSI escape s  DOS Error/Return 's  Hhs  Low-level gscan 's  8088 thru 80486 and 80x87 Op'summary  Switch tings for PCs  /Hex/Decimal/Binary cross-refernece Ttopics discussed in Plain English  up and exit   File Allocation Table; how to read it, recover files, more!  I/O; how to use it, how to redirect it Ryour   DOS Versions; a mer's-eye view  The DOS D; how to read it/store 5fit v: Tech Help! is in NO WAY a tutorial; but it does document its highly technical topics in comprehensible terms. We're talking a veritible encyclopedia of ]; a Mega-and- a-half of , compressed to 600K (and it stays that size on your Ydisk). It fills 500 pages ed. TECH Help! employs the Flambeaux Help!  4-31-86 3:32p parent  .. <1> 4-31-86 3:32p MEMO5-4 86 1797 5-04-86 11:34a RESUME DOC 18689 6-06-86 5:45p MEMO6-21 86 37257 6-21-86 9:48a 3 File(s) 6217728 bytes free The directory named '.' (dot) is "this directory". You won't use it much (see the PATH command for one Eusage). But '..' (dot dot) is a name for "the parent of this directory". It can be very useful, saving you a lot of typing. It allows easy movement  directories that Za common parent. For E, consider the Oing directory and the files in the \\LTRS and \\MISC directories:,     ͻ Ŀ You Are Here  ltrs misc ͼ   BILL.LTR MEMO5-4.86 Ŀ IBM.LTR RESUME.DOC ͵ You want this file  JONES.LTR MEMO6-21.86  Now let's assume that the 6directory is C:\\ltrs but you want to  [d:]filespec Capture the screen }of a to a file. < [d:]filespec Feed g`to a . >> [d:]filespec Add ks of }to an Ging file. |  Send the screen }of one to    as its g`. In Acase, DOS Fes the '' (command or ), but applies rules to how that will handle its I/O. is invisible to the . It  reads keys Rthe 'g' and writes to the 'screen'. But you y I/O in a command, you %the meaning of 'g' and 'screen', Bively ,ling the and 8of the I/O. This lets you prepare a "script" with a editor and Fe a  supplying all the d `. And you can trap the screen }and send it to the (PRN), to a port (AUX), or to a file. v: if the file does not G, DOS will .it. Ms Ztheir own `and }=rs, and they can't benefit RI/O , but I/O works with all DOS commands ^ing (ing with version 2.10). The 3s are ly to take advantage of it.Ŀ ?with  The ?command, used in conjunction with I/O , is a handy way to }and ,&s to a or other 9.Es: 1>filel.txt .s the file FILELIST.TXT. The file is in Qso it can be TYPEd, ~ed, or edited with editor. c:\*.* a: /S >prn does a )up of all files on your Ydisk (=C) and .s a ed ling of all files as they are ed up. !c:\utils\*.bat d: >nul directs the screen }of the !command fthe bit bucket, so you won't see the "1 File(s) Copied" r. 1| SORT | FIND /V "i" #s the 1command to send its }to the SORT filter, sorts the filenames alphabetically. The FIND filter removes all ks +ing a lowercase I ("i"), thus removing  unwanted ks Rthe . There is no > at the end, so the sorted and filtered directory ling goes to the screen. ?^L>lpt1 sends a "form feed" &to the (Ctrl-L) ?y | del *.* answers the "are you sure?" question it is asked. This is dangerous, but useful in cases; ely in files.v: you redirect the }of a 1command, you psee two files led with names such as "0C2C1024." These are unique filenames generated temporarily as holding pens for the I/O. They are  .d in the /6directory of the 6=. One way to eliminate such screwball filenames Rthe } file is to na :=the 6issuing the 1command. For a, instead of: C>dir *.* | sort >myfiles use: C>D: (na RAM disk the 6) D>dir C:*.* | sort >myfiles This is ely Bive the 6=is a RAM disk be#the temporary files are .d and erased very quickly.N 3s Filenames  DOS Commands  M888 0~  y&Y"(5.}*. y/;OpRrS nm@ A Files A file is a of DOS commands, stored in a file and Fed at time, just by the name of the file as if it were a single DOS command. By storing a series of commands fa file, you can reuse those commands again and again, saving a lot of typing and avoiding mistakes. Ŀ Creating a File There are ways to .a file.  The best tool is a good editor. Or, you can use most word ing as long as you remember to save the file as a "" or "non-document" file. If you must, you can use EDLIN but most people consider it a throw-to the dark ages. For short files, you can copy directly Rthe gfthe file. For a, to .the 3-kfile named 'dirab' to