Contents:
1.Command Syntax
2.The Command Line
a - command name
b - Parameters
c - switches
3.Making a DOS menu using a Batch file
4.Changing System Environment Variables
5.Running Programs from prompt
Overview:
DOS is a command line interface, you have to know the commands it accepts to take advantage of its features. It also allows Batch Scripting.
"Welcome to MS-DOS, the most widely used operating system for personal computers." - MS-DOS Operating System Users Guide and Reference. Version 5.0. Published 1987-1991
1. Command Syntax
Definition - Command Syntax is the order that you have to type the command along with any parameters or switches that follow it.
Elements in bold must be typed exactly as they are in the syntax line, and other elements are in italics
Example: sample {+r|-r}{drive:}{path} filename {...}{options}
Where sample = the command
{} = optional, do not type these in when at prompt!
| = this pipeline separates mutually exclusive choices in a syntax line, does not need to be typed
drive: = specifies either hard disk or floppy
path = the route the os follows through directory structure
filename = specified file
... = that the previous parameter or switch can be repeated several times, type only the info not the dots(ellipsis)
options = specifies optional command parameters or switches
I will show you the correct syntax for a few common commands.
Del (Delete)
2 types
Syntax = del{drive:}{path}filename{/p}
Syntax = erase{drive:}{path}filename{/p}
DIR
Syntax =
dir{drive:}{path}{filename}{/p}{/w}{/a:attributes}{/o:sortorder}{/s}{/b}{/l}
Format
Syntax = 4 types
format drive:{/v{:label}}{/q}{/u}{/f:size}{/b|/s}
format drive:{/v{:label}}{/q}{/u}{/t:tracks/n:sectors}{/b|/s}
format drive:{/v{:label}}{/q}{/u}{/1}{/4}{/b|/s}
format drive:{/q}{/u}{/1}{/4}{/8}{/b|/s}
And thats Syntax...easy, its just the way the command is written out with all the switches and parameters and crap!
2.The Command Line
Now I know I should have brought this part up in the first tutorial, so im going to go about and explain this stuff here, so you know
a. Command Name
The Command Name is is what you type first. It tells the action you want to perform. Some commands such as CLS (CLear Screen) consist of just the name, other need more than that.
b. Parameters
Parameters define the object you want DOS to perform on. Some require only one parameter, other require more. Parameters are everything from drive names to filenames and even switches, paths etc...
c. Switches
A forward slash followed by a single letter or number is a switch. If a command has more than one, you type them one after the other. Switches modify the way a command perfroms its task.
Here are examples of commands and their switches.
Del(Delete)
Switches: /p = prompts you for confirmation
DIR
Switches:
/p = display one screen at a time
/w = display in wide format
/a:attributes = displays only the names of directories and files with the attributes specified
---------------------------------------------------------------
attributes are
h = hidden files
-h files arnt hidden
s = system files
-s files other than system files
d = directories
-d only files
a = files ready for archiving
-a files that have not changed since last archiving
r = read-only files
-r files that arnt read-only
----------------------------------------------
switches cont.
/o:sortorder
controls order that dir sorts and displays names and filenames.
----------------------------------------------
n = alphebetical order
-n revers alphabetical order
e = alphabetical by extension
-e reverse alphabetical extension
d = by date and time, earliest first
-d date and time, latest first
s = by size, smallest first
-s by size, largest first
g = directories before files
-g directories after files
----------------------------------------------
switches cont.
/s = listes every occurance in a specified directory and subdirectories, of the filename
/b = lists each directory or filename, one per line with extension, overrides /w switch
/l = unsorted directory names and filenames in lowercase
Format
Switches:
/v:label = specifies volumn label
/q = deletes teh file allocation table (FAT/FAT32) and root directory or previously formatted disk
/u = specifies an unconditional format operation for a floppy or hard disk. It destroys all data on a disk and prevents later unformatting
/f:size = specifies the size of the floppy disk to format
/b = reserves space for the system files IO.sys and msdos.sys on newly formatted disk
/s = copies operating system files IO.sys, msdos.sys, and command.com to newly formatted disk
/t:tracks = specifies the number of tracks on the disk, if you use /t you must use /n, so use /f instead...
/n:sectors = number of sectors per track on the disk
/1 = formats a single side floppy
/4 = formats a 5.25, 360K double sided double density floppy ... oooooo
/8 = formats 5.25 with 8 sectors per track
Well thats it for part 2.a be back shortly for part2.b!!!
