Dos%20commands(1)

DOS Commands
 What is a command
 Types of DOS Commands
– Internal
– External
 Basic Terms
– File (File Types)
 Executable File
 Non Executable File
– Directory
– Root Directory
– Parent Directory

What is a Command
 A command is a set of instructions use
d to perform a specific work
 Interpreted by the OS interpreter to a
machine language
– E.g. <md Ram>,<cd Ram>,etc.

Types of Command
 Internal Command
– Those commands which are already loaded i
n the Command.COM file while switching to t
he MS DOS
– E.g. CLS, VER, DEL, etc.
 External Command
– Those commands which are not loaded when
loading the Program but are available in the
Disk and can be invoked whenever necessary
– E.g. FORMAT, TREE, XCOPY, etc.

What is a File
 A group of organized data (records) whic
h are assembled for one particular pur
pose and considered as one unit
 Stored in permanent storage like hard
disk, diskettes,etc.

Types of Files
 Files can broadly be categorized into two t
ypes:
– Executable Files
– Non-Executable Files (Data Files)

What are EXE Files
 Exe Files:
– Program files that run or execute themsel
ves
– Have either COM or EXE or BAT as exte
nsion

What are Data Files
 Non- executable files that contain only
the data that we produce
 Cannot execute themselves
 Need application program to run

What is a Directory
 A directory is a list of file which is itself
a file stored in the computer’s memory
so that users can reference it as it is re
quired
 Also called a catalog of files

Root Directory
 The Root directory is that directory tha
t is automatically created when the dis
k is formatted
 It is the current drive that we have be
en working
– E.g. A:, B: (for Floppy Disk Drive)
– C:,D: etc. (for Hard Disk Drive)

Current / Parent Directory
 Current directory is that directory in w
hich you are currently working
 Parent directory is that directory which
is one level up of the current directory
– E.g. C:RamHari>
Root directory
Parent directory
Current directory

Getting into MS DOS
 To start MS DOS, clic
k on the Start button
and choose Run
 In the Run dialog bo
x, type CMD or CO
MMAND which is th
e EXE file for MS DO
S
 Click on the OK butt
on

Listing the Directories and Fil
es in MS DOS
 For listing the Sub-directories and Files
within a directory, we use the DIR com
mand
 Syntax :
– DIR [Directory_name]
– E.g. C:>DIR NCIT
 Displays all the directories/files within the direct
ory NCIT

1. Dir/p : -Display file and directory page wise.
2. Dir/w :- Display file And directory in horizontal
Style.
3. Dir/p/ w:- Display file And directories page wise
and horizontal style also.
4. Dir/ah :-Display all hidden files and directories.
5. Dir/a-d : - Display only files.
6. Dir/ad :- Display only Directories.
7. Dir/a/s:-Display all directory and file with subdi
rectory.
8. Dir/a :- Display All Hidden And Non hidden file
and directories.
9. Dir n*.* :Display all file and directory starting
with ‘ n ’ alphabet.

Creating a Directory in MS DOS
 For creating the Directory in MS DOS, we
use the MD (Make Directory)command
 Syntax:
– C:> MD NCIT

Changing a Directory in MS DOS
 For changing the directory in MS DOS,
we use the CD (Change Directory) command
 Syntax:
– C:>CD NCIT
 Now it appears as:
– C:NCIT>

Switching between Directories
 For switching between the directories w
e use the CD.. Or CD commands
 The CD.. Command switches from the c
urrent directory to the Parent directory
whereas the CD command switches fro
m the current directory to the Root direc
tory

Creating Files in MS DOS
 For creating the files in DOS, the command
COPY CON is used
 Syntax:
– COPY CON filename
Note: File name should not exceed eight characters excluding thr
ee characters for extension
– E.g. College1.txt

Reading Files in MS DOS
 For reading the Pre-created files in MS
DOS, we use the TYPE command. It d
isplays all the contents that are in the
file.
 Syntax :
– TYPE Filename

Renaming Files
 For renaming the files in MS DOS we u
se the REN Command
 Syntax:
– REN oldfilename newfilename

Deleting Files in MS DOS
 For deleting files in MS DOS we use th
e DEL command
 Syntax :
– DEL Filename

Deleting directories in MSDOS
 For deleting the directories in MS DOS
we use the RD command
 Syntax :
– RD Directoryname
Note : For removing the directory first the directory should b
e empty

Copying Files in MS DOS
 In MS DOS, Files can be copied within
the same as well as to another Drive /
directory
 For copying the files in the same drive
we use the following syntax :
– COPY sourcefile destination
– E.g. C:>COPY [c:]NCITfile1.txt C:NCITNGH

Copying Files in MS DOS
 Files can be copied not only in the same dri
ve but in different drive, too. For copying th
e files in different drive, a complete location
along with the Drive specification should be
mentioned
 Syntax :
– C:>COPY C:NCITfile1 D:NCITNGHNCIT

The MOVE Command
 The MOVE Command in MS DOS is used to p
ermanently move the files from one location t
o another.
 The COPY command only copies the files leaving the
original one, whereas the MOVE command does not l
eave any copy
 Syntax :
– C:>MOVE source_file destination_directory
 E.g.
– C:>MOVE c:NCITfile1 D:NCIT1file2

The VOL Command
 The VOL command is used to check the Vol
ume of the Disk-drive. It displays the volum
e of the current disk-drive
 Syntax :
– VOL Drivename
 E.g.
– C:> VOL

Checking the Version of OS
 The VER command is used to check the
version of the Operating System that is
used in the Computer
 Syntax :
– C:>VER
 E.g. C:>VER
Returns the version of OS as Microsoft Windows 2000 [
version 5.00.21951]

Checking the Date/Time
 For checking the date from the system in MS
DOS, we use the DATE command. It returns
the current system date.
 Similarly, the TIME command returns the cur
rent time from the system.
 Syntax :
– C:>DATE
 E.g. C:>DATE

External Commands
Those commands which are not loade
d when loading the Program but are
available in the Disk and can be invo
ked whenever necessary
E.g. FORMAT, TREE, XCOPY, etc.

The Label Command
 The Label command is used to check t
he label of the disk that you have bee
n currently working
 Syntax :
– Label [drivename]
 E.g.
– C:>Label

XCopy Command
 Xcopy command is used to copy the files from
one location to another along with the directo
ries/sub-directories
 Syntax :
– C:>XCOPY c:dir_name d:[dir_name]
 E.g. C:>XCOPY c:CSE d:[CSE]
Note: For copying all the sub-directories, /S is used

The DISKCOPY Command
 The DISKCOPY command is used to copy
all the files from one disk to the another dis
k
 It can be used to copy files from one floppy
disk to another (if two floppy drives exist in the System)
 Syntax :
– C:> DISKCOPY first_diskdrive: second_diskdrive:
 E.g.
– C:> DISKCOPY A: B:

The DISKCOMP Command
 The DISKCOMP command in MS DOS c
ompares the contents of two disks (hard dis
k or floppy disk). The system first reads the co
ntents of one disk and compares it with
the another
 Syntax :
– C:> DISKCOMP A: B:
For defining the no.of sectors, /no. can be used

The FORMAT Command
 The FORMAT command prepares a new dis
k for use by organizing the disk into magnet
ic tracks and sectors
 Syntax :
– A:>FORMAT [Drive_name]
 E.g.
– C:>FORMAT A:

The TREE Command
 The TREE command is used to display
all directory pathnames on the specifie
d disk
 Syntax :
– C:>TREE [disk_name]
 E.g.
– C:>TREE A:

The EDIT Command
 The EDIT command in MS DOS is used to e
dit the files. It provides a different full scree
n Editor window with a few menu options.
 Syntax :
– C:>EDIT [filename]
 E.g.
– C:>EDIT file1

The MORE Command
 The MORE Command in MS DOS is used to vi
ew the contents of directories or files one line
after the another, I.e. it displays one line at o
ne press of return (Enter) key
 Syntax :
– DIR |MORE
 E.g.
– DIR C:NCIT |MORE
A pipeline is used along with the MORE command

The PRINT Command
 The PRINT Command in MS DOS is u
sed to print the text files
 Syntax :
– PRINT Filename
 E.g.
– PRINT File1.txt

The PROMPT Command
 The PROMPT is used to configure a D
OS prompt into our linking
 Syntax :
– C: PROMPT Promptname
 E.g.
– PROMPT NCIT
Now, the Prompt will be as NCIT

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