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DOS Commands

Internal Commands Built into the OS. Already in memory if the OS is loaded. Available anytime the computer is displaying a command prompt. External Commands Not a part of COMMAND.COM. Located in another directory. Must be loaded into memory as needed by the OS. Commands have three parts: Keyword Parameter Switch optional 6 Keyword - What action to perform. Parameter - What is acted upon. Switches - How to perform the action.

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Dharmendra Koguru
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6K views19 pages

DOS Commands

Internal Commands Built into the OS. Already in memory if the OS is loaded. Available anytime the computer is displaying a command prompt. External Commands Not a part of COMMAND.COM. Located in another directory. Must be loaded into memory as needed by the OS. Commands have three parts: Keyword Parameter Switch optional 6 Keyword - What action to perform. Parameter - What is acted upon. Switches - How to perform the action.

Uploaded by

Dharmendra Koguru
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lab 1-

1-1
Using the Command Line

Copyright © 2006 Heathkit Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved 1


Internal Versus External
Commands

2
Internal Commands

Built into the OS.


Already in memory if the OS is loaded.
Available anytime the computer is
displaying a command prompt.
Generally, the more frequently used
commands.
Examples include: DIR, COPY, PATH, CD,
MD, DEL, TIME, DATE.
3
External Commands

Not a part of COMMAND.COM.


Located in another directory.
Must be loaded into memory as needed by
the OS.
Examples include: FORMAT, DEFRAG,
DISKCOPY, MEMMAKER, and
SCANDISK.

4
Syntax

A specific set of rules that you must follow


when writing commands.
The order in which you arrange the
elements of the command.
The rules of grammar for the command line.

5
Commands have three parts:

Keyword Parameter Switch

Optional

6
Keyword - What action to perform.

Parameter - What is acted upon.

Switches - How to perform the action.

7
Keyword

A unique word or set of characters that


identifies the action to be performed.
Some are quite descriptive: FORMAT,
COPY, MOVE
Others are abbreviated: DEL, DEFRAG,
DBLSPACE
A few are little more than memory aids:
EMM386 and MSCDEX.
8
Parameter

Additional directions for the command.


It may specify a directory or file on which
to perform the action.
It may specify a hardware device.
It may specify a system setting.

9
Switches
A special type of parameter that enables or
disables optional functions of the command.
The /P switch with the DIR command
displays the directory one screen at a time.
The /W switch with the DIR command
displays the directory in the wide format
(five columns wide).

10
Two Common Forms of
Commands:

Keyword Drive/Files Switches

Or

Keyword Source Files Target Files Switches

11
DEL SALES95.DOC

Keyword File

12
DEL A:\
A:\SALES95.DOC

Keyword File

13
COPY FILE13.TXT A:

Keyword
Source
Target
or
Destination

14
COPY FILE13.TXT A:

Space Space

15
COPY FILE13.TXT A: /V

Keyword Switch
Source
Target
or
Destination

16
Backslash Vs. Forward Slash

\ Backslashes are used as separators


when specifying directory or file
information.
/ Forward slashes are used to notify DOS
that the next character is a command line
switch.

17
Bad command or file name.

18
Getting Help.

Type HELP followed by the command you


want to know about.
Type the command and then follow it with
the switch /?.

19

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