DOS Command Index batch file to continue.

CTTY
From the book (Internal)
DOS the Easy Way CHCP
by Everett Murdock Ph.D. (Internal) CTTY (device)
NOTE:
The complete index to DOS commands can be CHCP (codepage) Changes the standard I/O (Input/Output) device to
found at an auxiliary device.
www.easydos.com Displays the current code page or changes the code
page that DOS will use. DATE
For more information about the book DOS the Easy (Internal)
Way CHDIR
click here to go to (Internal) DATE mm-dd-yy
WWW.EASYDOS.COM
CHDIR (CD) [d:]path Displays and/or sets the system date.
Select the command name for complete information CHDIR (CD)[..]
about that command and examples of its use. DBLSPACE
Displays working (current) directory and/or changes (External)
APPEND to a different directory.
(External) DBLSPACE / automount=drives
CHKDSK DBLSPACE /chkdsk [/F] [d:]
APPEND ; (External) DBLSPACE /compress d: [/newdrive=host:]
APPEND [d:]path[;][d:]path[...] [/reserve=size] [/F]
APPEND [/X:on|off][/path:on|off] [/E] CHKDSK [d:][path][filename] [/F][/V] DBLSPACE /create d: [/newdrive=host:]
[/reserve=size] [/size=size]
Displays or sets the search path for data files. DOS Checks a disk and provides a file and memory DBLSPACE /defragment [d:] ]/F]
will search the specified path(s) if the file is not status report. DBLSPACE /delete d:
found in the current path. DBLSPACE /doubleguard=0|1
CHOICE DBLSPACE /format d:
ASSIGN (Internal) DBLSPACE [/info] [d:]
(External) DBLSPACE /list
CHOICE [/C[:]keys] [/N][/S][/T[:]c,nn] [text] DBLSPACE /mount[=nnn] host: [/newdrive=d:]
ASSIGN x=y [...] /sta DBLSPACE /ratio[=ratio] [d:] [/all]
Used to provide a prompt so that a user can make a DBLSPACE /size[=size] [/reserve=size] d:
Redirects disk drive requests to a different drive. choice while a batch program is running. DBLSPACE /uncompress d:
DBLSPACE /unmount [d:]
ATTRIB CLS (Clear Screen)
(External) (Internal) A program available with DOS 6.0 that allows you to
compress information on a disk.
ATTRIB [d:][path]filename [/S] CLS
ATTRIB [+R|-R] [+A|-A] [+S|-S] [+H|-H] DEBUG
[d:][path]filename [/S] Clears (erases) the screen. (External)

Sets or displays the read-only, archive, system, and COMMAND DEBUG [pathname] [parameters]
hidden attributes of a file or directory. (External)
An MS-DOS utility used to test and edit programs.
BACKUP COMMAND [d:][path] [device] [/P][/E:(size)]
(External) [/MSG][/Y [/C (command)|/K (command)] DEFRAG
(External)
BACKUP d:[path][filename] d:[/S][/M][/A][/F:(size)] Starts a new version of the DOS command
[/P][/D:date] [/T:time] [/L:[path]filename] processor (the program that loads the DOS Internal DEFRAG [d:] [/F][/S[:]order] [/B][/skiphigh [/LCD|
programs). /BW|/GO] [/H]
Makes a backup copy of one or more files. (In DOS DEFRAG [d:] [/V][/B][/skiphigh] [/LCD]|/BW|/GO] [/H]
Version 6, this program is stored on the DOS COMP
supplemental disk.) (External) Optimizes disk performance by reorganizing the files
on the disk.
BREAK COMP [d:][path][filename] [d:][path][filename]
(Internal) [/A][/C][/D][/L][/N:(number)]
DEL (ERASE)
BREAK =on|off Compares two groups of files to find information that (Internal)
does not match. (See FC command).
Used from the DOS prompt or in a batch file or in the DEL (ERASE) [d:][path]filename [/P]
CONFIG.SYS file to set (or display) whether or not COPY
DOS should check for a Ctrl + Break key (Internal) Deletes (erases) files from disk.
combination.
COPY [/Y|-Y] [/A][/B] [d:][path]filename [/A][/B] DELOLDOS
BUFFERS [d:][path][filename] [/V] (External)
(Internal) or
COPY [/Y|-Y][/A][/B] DELOLDOS [/B]
BUFFERS=(number),(read-ahead number) [d:][path]filename+[d:][path]filename[...][d:][path][filen
ame] [/V] Deletes all files from previous versions of DOS after
Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to set the number of a 5.0 or 6.0 installation.
disk buffers (number) that will be available for use Copies and appends files.
during data input. Also used to set a value for the DELTREE
number of sectors to be read in advance (read- COUNTRY (External)
ahead) during data input operations. (Internal)
DELTREE [/Y] [d:]path [d:]path[...]
CALL COUNTRY=country code,[code page][,][d:][filename]
(Internal) Deletes (erases) a directory including all files and
Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to tell DOS to use subdirectories that are in it.
CALL [d:][path]batchfilename [options] country-specific text conventions during processing.

Calls another batch file and then returns to current DEVICE

(Internal) [/H:(number)] [/I][ /N][/S:(number)] [/T:(tracks)] or (for binary comparisons)
FC [/B][/number] [d:][path]filename [d:][path]filename
DEVICE=(driver name) Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to set parameters for
a disk drive. Displays the differences between two files or sets of
Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to tell DOS which files.
device driver to load.
ECHO
(Internal) FCBS
DEVICEHIGH (Internal)
(Internal) ECHO on|off
ECHO (message) FCBS=(number)
DEVICEHIGH=(driver name)
Displays messages or turns on or off the display of Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to specify the number
Like DEVICE, DEVICEHIGH is used in the commands in a batch file. of file-control blocks for file sharing.
CONFIG.SYS file to tell DOS which device driver
software to use for devices; however, this option is
used to install the device driver into the upper EDIT FDISK
memory area. (External) (External)

EDIT [d:][path]filename [/B][/G][/H][/NOHI] FDISK [/status]

DIR
(Internal) Starts the MS-DOS editor, a text editor used to Prepares a fixed disk to accept DOS files for
create and edit ASCII text files. storage.
DIR [d:][path][filename] [/A:(attributes)] [/O:(order)]
[/B][/C][/CH][/L][/S][/P][/W]
EMM386 FILES
Displays directory of files and directories stored on (External) (Internal)
disk.
EMM386 [on|off|auto] [w=on|off] FILES=(number)

DISKCOMP Enables or disables EMM386 expanded-memory Used in the CONFIG.Sys file to specify the
(External) support on a computer with an 80386 or higher maximum number of files that can be open at the
processor. same time.
DISKCOMP [d:] [d:][/1][/8]

Compares the contents of two diskettes. EXE2BIN FIND

(External) (External)

DISKCOPY EXE2BIN [d:][path]filename [d:][path]filename FIND [/V][/C][/I][/N] ÒstringÓ [d:][path]filename[...]

(External)
Converts .EXE (executable) files to binary format. Finds and reports the location of a specific string of
DISKCOPY [d:] [d:][/1][/V][/M] text characters in one or more files.

Makes an exact copy of a diskette. EXIT

(Internal) FOR
(Internal)
DOS EXIT
(Internal) FOR %%(variable) IN (set) DO (command)
Exits a secondary command processor.
DOS=[high|low],[umb|noumb] or (for interactive processing)
FOR %(variable) IN (set) DO (command)
Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to specify the memory EXPAND
location for DOS. It is used to load DOS into the (External) Performs repeated execution of commands (for both
upper memory area and to specify whether or not batch processing and interactive processing).
the upper memory blocks will be used. EXPAND [d:][path]filename [[d:][path]filename[ . . .]]

Expands a compressed file. FORMAT

DOSKEY (External)
(External)
FASTHELP FORMAT d:[/1][/4][/8][/F:(size)] [/N:(sectors)]
DOSKEY [reinstall] (External) [/T:(tracks)][/B|/S][/C][/V:(label)] [/Q][/U][/V]
[/bufsize=size][/macros][/history][/insert|/overstrike]
[macroname=[text]] FASTHELP [command][command] /? Formats a disk to accept DOS files.

Loads the Doskey program into memory which can Displays a list of DOS commands with a brief
be used to recall DOS commands so that you can explanation of each. GOTO
edit them. (Internal)

FASTOPEN GOTO (label)

DOSSHELL (External)
(External) Causes unconditional branch to the specified label.
FASTOPEN d:[=n][/X]
DOSSHELL [/B] [/G:[resolution][n]]|[/T:[resolution][n]]
Keeps track of the locations of files for fast access. GRAFTABL
Initiates the graphic shell program using the (External)
specified screen resolution.
FC GRAFTABL [(code page)]
(External) GRAFTABL [status]
DRIVPARM
(Internal) FC [/A][/C][/L][/Lb n][/N][/T][/W][number] Loads a table of character data into memory (for use
[d:][path]filename [d:][path]filename with a color/graphics adapter).
DRIVPARM= /D:(number) [/C] [/F:(form factor)]
 (External)
Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to create a start-up
GRAPHICS KEYB [xx][,][yyy][,][d:][path]filename menu from which you can select a group of
(External) [/E][/ID:(number)] CONFIG.SYS commands to be processed upon
reboot.
GRAPHICS [printer type][profile] Loads a program that replaces the support program
[/B][/R][/LCD][/PB:(id)] [/C][/F][/P(port)] for U. S. keyboards.
MIRROR
Provides a way to print contents of a graphics LABEL (External)
screen display. (External)
MIRROR [d:]path [d:] path [...]
LABEL [d:][volume label] MIRROR [d1:][d2:][...] [/T(drive)(files)] [/partn][/U][/1]
HELP
(External) Creates or changes or deletes a volume label for a Saves disk storage information that can be used to
disk. recover accidentally erased files.
HELP [command] [/B][/G][/H][/NOHI]
LASTDRIVE
Displays information about a DOS command. (Internal) MKDIR
(MD) (Internal)
LASTDRIVE=(drive letter)
IF MKDIR (MD) [d:]path
(Internal) Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to set the maximum
number of drives that can be accessed. Creates a new subdirectory.
IF [NOT] EXIST filename (command) [parameters]
IF [NOT] (string1)==(string2) (command) LOADFIX
[parameters] (Internal)
IF [NOT] ERRORLEVEL (number) (command) MODE
[parameters] LOADFIX [d:][path]filename [parameters] (External)

Allows for conditional operations in batch Ensures that a program is loaded above the first 64K MODE n
processing. of conventional memory, and runs the program. MODE LPT#[:][n][,][m][,][P][retry]
MODE [n],m[,T]
LOADHIGH MODE (displaytype,linetotal)
INCLUDE (Internal) MODE
(Internal) COMn[:]baud[,][parity][,][databits][,][stopbits][,][retry]
LOADHIGH (LH) [d:][path]filename [parameters] MODE LPT#[:]=COMn [retry]
INCLUDE= blockname MODE CON[RATE=(number)][DELAY=(number)]
Loads memory resident application into reserved MODE (device) CODEPAGE PREPARE=(codepage)
Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to allow you to use the area of memory (between 640K-1M). [d:][path]filename
commands from one CONFIG.SYS block within MODE (device) CODEPAGE PREPARE=(codepage
another. list) [d:][path]filename
MEM MODE (device) CODEPAGE SELECT=(codepage)
(External) MODE (device) CODEPAGE [/STATUS]
INSTALL MODE (device) CODEPAGE REFRESH
(Internal) MEM [/program|/debug|/classify|/free|
/module(name)] [/page] Sets mode of operation for devices or
INSTALL=[d: ][\path]filename [parameters] communications.
Displays amount of installed and available memory,
Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to load memory- including extended, expanded, and upper memory. MORE
resident programs into conventional memory. (External)
MEMMAKER
(External) MORE < (filename or command)
INTERLINK (name)|MORE
(External) MEMMAKER [/B][/batch][/session][/swap:d]
[/T][/undo][/W:size1,size2] Sends output to console, one screen at a time.
INTERLINK [client[:]=[server][:]]
Starts the MemMaker program, a program that lets MOVE
Connects two computers via parallel or serial ports you optimize your computer's memory. (Internal)
so that the computers can share disks and printer
ports. MENUCOLOR MOVE [/Y|/-Y]
(Internal) [d:][path]filename[,[d:][path]filename[...]] destination
INTERSVR
(External) MENUCOLOR=textcolor,[background] Moves one or more files to the location you specify.
Can also be used to rename directories.
INTERSVR [d:][...][/X=d:][...] [/LPT:[n|address]] Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to set the colors that
[/COM:[n|address]][/baud:rate] [/B][/V] will be used by DOS to display text on the screen. MSAV
INTERSVR /RCOPY (External)

Starts the Interlink server. MENUDEFAULT MSAV [d:] [/S|

(Internal) /C][/R][/A][/L][/N][/P][/F][/video][/mouse]
MSAV /video
JOIN MENUDEFAULT=blockname, [timeout]
(External) Scans your computer for known viruses.
Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to set the startup
JOIN d: [d:path] configuration that will be used by DOS if no key is
JOIN d: [/D] pressed within the specified timeout period.
MSBACKUP
Allows access to the directory structure and files of a (External)
drive through a directory on a different drive. MENUITEM
(Internal) MSBACKUP [setupfile] [/BW|/LCD|/MDA]

KEYB MENUITEM=blockname, [menutext] Used to backup or restore one or more files from
one disk to another. Changes the DOS command prompt. Version 6, this command is no longer available).

MSCDEX RECOVER SET

(External) (External) (Internal)

MSCDEX /D:driver [/D:driver2. . .] RECOVER [d:][path]filename SET (string1)=(string2)

[/E][/K][/S][/V][/L:letter] [/M:number] RECOVER d:
Inserts strings into the command environment. The
Used to gain access to CD-ROM drives (new with Resolves sector problems on a file or a disk. set values can be used later by programs.
DOS Version 6). (Beginning with DOS Version 6, RECOVER is no
longer available ). SETVER
MSD (External)
(External) REM
(Internal) SETVER [d:]:path][filename
MSD [/B][/I] (number)][/delete][/quiet]
MSD [/I] [/F[d:][path]filename [/P[d:][path]filename REM [comment]
[/S[d:][path]filename Displays the version table and sets the version of
Used in batch files and in the CONFIG.SYS file to DOS that is reported to programs.
Provides detailed technical information about your insert remarks (that will not be acted on).
computer. SHARE
RENAME (REN) (External)
(Internal)
SHARE [/F:space] [/L:locks]
NLSFUNC RENAME (REN) [d:][path]filename [d:][path]filename
(External) Installs support for file sharing and file locking.

NLSFUNC [d:][path]filename Changes the filename under which a file is stored.

SHELL
Used to load a file with country-specific information. REPLACE (Internal)
(External)
NUMLOCK SHELL=[d:][path]filename [parameters]
(Internal) REPLACE [d:][path]filename [d:][path]
[/A][/P][/R][/S][/U][/W] Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to specify the
NUMLOCK=on|off command interpreter that DOS should use.
Replaces stored files with files of the same name
Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to specify the state of from a different storage location.
the NumLock key. SHIFT
(Internal)
PATH RESTORE
(Internal) (External) SHIFT

PATH; RESTORE d: [d:][path]filename [/P][/S][/B:mm-dd-yy] Increases number of replaceable parameters to

PATH [d:]path[;][d:]path[...] [/A:mm-dd-yy][/E:hh:mm:ss] [/L:hh:mm:ss] more than the standard ten for use in batch files.
[/M][/N][/D]
Sets or displays directories that will be searched for SORT
programs not in the current directory. Restores to standard disk storage format files (External)
previously stored using the BACKUP command.
SORT [/R][/+n] < (filename)
PAUSE SORT [/R][/+n] > (filename2)
(Internal) RMDIR (RD)
(Internal) Sorts input and sends it to the screen or to a file.
PAUSE [comment]
RMDIR (RD) [d:]path
Suspends execution of a batch file until a key is STACKS
pressed. Removes a subdirectory. (Internal)

POWER STACKS=(number),(size)
(External)
SCANDISK Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to set the number of
POWER [adv:max|reg|min]|std|off] (External) stack frames and the size of each stack frame.

Used to turn power management on and off, report SCANDISK [d: [d: . . .]|/all][/checkonly|
the status of power management, and set levels of /autofix[/nosave]|
power conservation. /custom][/surface][/mono][/nosummay] SUBMENU
SCANDISK volume-name[/checkonly| (Internal)
/autofix[/nosave]|/custom][/mono][/nosummary]
SCANDISK /fragment [d:][path]filename SUBMENU=blockname, [menutext]
PRINT SCANDISK /undo [undo-d:][/mono]
(External) Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to create a multilevel
Starts the Microsoft ScanDisk program which is a menu from which you can select start-up options.
PRINT [/B:(buffersize)] [/D:(device)] [/M:(maxtick)] disk analysis and repair tool used to check a drive
[/Q:(value] [/S:(timeslice)][/U:(busytick)] [/C][/P][/T] for errors and correct any problems that it finds.
[d:][path][filename] [...] SUBST
SELECT (External)
Queues and prints data files. (External)
SUBST d: d:path
PROMPT SELECT [d:] [d:][path] [country code][keyboard code] SUBST d: /D
(Internal)
Substitutes a virtual drive letter for a path
PROMPT [prompt text] [options] Formats a disk and installs country-specific designation.
information and keyboard codes (starting with DOS
SWITCHES
(Internal) (Internal) A pathname (path) refers to the path you want DOS
to follow in order to act on the DOS command. As
SWITCHES= [/K][/F][/N][/W] VOL [d:] described in Chapter 3, it indicates the path from the
current directory or subdirectory to the files that are
Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to configure DOS in a Displays a disk's volume label. to be acted upon.
special way; for example, to tell DOS to emulate
different hardware configurations. 6. Filename

SYS VSAFE A filename is the name of a file stored on disk. As

(External) (External) described in Chapter 1, a filename can be of eight or
fewer letters or other legal characters.
SYS [source] d: VSAFE [/option[+|-]...] [/NE][/NX][Ax|/Cx] [/N][/D][/U]
7. Filename Extension
Transfers the operating system files to another disk. VSAFE is a memory-resident program that
continuously monitors your computer for viruses and A filename extension can follow the filename to
displays a warning when it finds one. further identify it. The extension follows a period and
can be of three or fewer characters. A filename
TIME extension is not required.
(Internal)
XCOPY 8. Switches
TIME hh:mm[:ss][.cc][A|P] (External)
Characters shown in a command syntax that are
Displays current time setting of system clock and XCOPY [d:][path]filename [d:][path][filename] represented by a letter or number and preceded by
provides a way for you to reset the time. [/A][/D:(date)] [/E][/M][/P][/S][/V][/W][Y\-Y] a forward slash (for example, "/P") are command
Copies directories, subdirectories, and files. options (sometimes known as "switches"). Use of
Syntax Notes these options activate special operations as part of a
To be functional, each DOS command must be DOS command's functions.
TREE entered in a particular way: this command entry
(External) structure is known as the command's "syntax." The 9. Brackets
syntax "notation" is a way to reproduce the
TREE [d:][path] [/A][/F] command syntax in print. Items enclosed in square brackets are optional; in
other words, the command will work in its basic form
Displays directory paths and (optionally) files in each For example, you can determine the items that are without entering the information contained inside the
subdirectory. optional, by looking for information that is printed brackets.
inside square brackets. The notation [d:], for
example, indicates an optional drive designation. 10. Ellipses
The command syntax, on the other hand, is how
TYPE YOU enter the command to make it work. Ellipses (...) indicate that an item in a command
(Internal) Command Syntax Elements syntax can be repeated as many times as needed.
1. Command Name
TYPE [d:][path]filename 11. Vertical Bar
The DOS command name is the name you enter to
Displays the contents of a file. start the DOS program (a few of the DOS When items are separated by a vertical bar (|), it
commands can be entered using shortcut names). means that you enter one of the separated items.
The DOS command name is always entered first. In For example: ON | OFF means that you can enter
UNDELETE this book, the command is usually printed in either ON or OFF, but not both.
(External) uppercase letters, but you can enter command
names as either lowercase or uppercase or a mix of
UNDELETE [d:][path][filename] [/DT|/DS|/DOS] both.
UNDELETE [/list|/all|/purge[d:]|/status|/load|/U|/S[d:]|
/Td:[-entries]] 2. Space

Restores files deleted with the DELETE command. Always leave a space after the command name.

3. Drive Designation
UNFORMAT
(External) The drive designation (abbreviated in this book as
"d:") is an option for many DOS commands.
UNFORMAT d: [/J][/L][/test][/partn][/P][/U] However, some commands are not related to disk
drives and therefore do not require a drive
Used to undo the effects of formatting a disk. designation. Whenever you enter a DOS command
that deals with disk drives and you are already
VER working in the drive in question, you do not have to
(Internal) enter the drive designator. For example, if you are
working in drive A (when the DOS prompt A> is
VER showing at the left side of the screen) and you want
to use the DIR command to display a directory listing
Displays the DOS version number. of that same drive, you do not have to enter the
drive designation. If you do not enter a drive
designation, DOS always assumes you are referring
VERIFY to the drive you are currently working in (sometimes
(Internal) called the "default" drive).

VERIFY on|off 4. A Colon

Turns on the verify mode; the program checks all When referring to a drive in a DOS command, you
copying operations to assure that files are copied must always follow the drive designator with a colon
correctly. (:) (this is how DOS recognizes it as a drive
designation).

5. Pathname
VOL