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Microsoft DOS (Disk Operating System) use a

command line user interface.

A command line user interface means that the user

is required to type in a command rather than

clicking on an icon.

A command line operating system uses a keyboard

to navigate and does not support the mouse.

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It is more difficult to use than the Graphical User

Interface (GUI) operating system because the user

is required to learn different commands in order to

perform various tasks.

However, those command can be very useful such

as when the user needs to rename several files in a

folder, it can be done in seconds using a command

at the command line while it takes much longer

using the GUI.3

A path is the complete name or location of where a computer file, web or object is located.

examples : - C:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents for the My Documents folder - C:\Documents and Settings\user\Start Menu for the Start menu.

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C:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\cap.txt

C: this is the root for the path, it can be any of the computer's storage components ( A: for the floppy, C: or D: for the hard disks and G: or F: for the external storage devices).

The root is considered to be level 0.

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C:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\cap.txt

\Documents and Settings the backslash (\) indicates the addition of a level in the path; whatever follows this (a folder(if no extension is provided) or file(if an extension is present)) will be considered in level 1.

Everything in level 1 is directly inside level 0, in our example, Documents and Settings folder is inside the C. Documents and Settings is in level 1.

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C:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\cap.txt

\user as mentioned previously, the backslash indicates the addition of a level, anything after this backslash is to be considered in level2.

Everything in level 2 is directly inside level 1 which in turn is inside level 0.

In our example, user folder is directly inside Documents and Setting folder which is located inside the C. user is in level 2.

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C:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\cap.txt

\My Documents, the backslash indicates the addition of a level, anything after this backslash is to be considered in level 3.

Everything in level 3 is directly inside level 2 which in turn is inside level 1 which is inside level 0.

In our example, My Documents is directly inside user which is inside Documents and Settings which is inside C. My Documents is in level 3.

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C:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\cap.txt

\cap.txt as mentioned previously , the backslash indicates the addition of a level, anything after this backslash is to be considered in level 4.

Everything in level 4 is directly inside level 3 which in turn is inside level 2 which is inside level 1 which is inside level 0.

In our example, cap file (it has an extension txt) is directly inside the My Documents folder which is inside the user folder which is inside Documents and Settings which is inside C. cap is in level 4.

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The Command Prompt is the program that allows

you to execute command line functions.

You can access it through one of the following:

1 - From the Start menu click on Run and type

"cmd" or "command".

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2- from the Start menu, click All Programs then Accessories and then click on Command Prompt.

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After both cases, a black colored window will appear; you can type in the DOS commands inside it.

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Simple DOS command enable the user to manipulate directories (or folders) and files.

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Directory Commands

File Commands

1- To Make a Directory: md directory name or path

A directory's name can be a simple name or a whole path.

if a name is specified that means that the directory will be created in the directory you are currently in.

However if a path is specified, the directory will be created according to that path.

Examples md test a directory by the name "test" will be created inside the

directory you are currently in. md d:\test a directory by the name "test" will be created in the d:\

directory.14

2-To Move from one Directory to another

cd directory name or path

This command will move you to the directory specified

whether inside the current directory or in a different one.

You should specify only the directory's name if it is

located directly inside the directory you are currently in.

Type in the directory's path if it is not immediately inside

the current directory you are in or if it is inside another

directory.

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3-To List all the Files in a Directorydir directory name or path

This command will give you a list of all the

directories and files inside a given directory.

Requesting this command without specifying the

directory's name or path will provide you with a

list of all the directories and files inside the

directory you are currently inside.

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4- To Make a Subdirectory First, move to the directory in

which you want to create a subdirectory (using the command cd) then create the subdirectory (using the command md).

Or, you could use the md command and specify the subdirectory's path.

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5- To Move from the Subdirectory to the Main Directory cd..

This command will move you one level backwards on the path you are currently located.

6- To Move from any Level to the Root

cd\ This command will move you to the root

directory no mater how many levels separate you from it.

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7- To Remove a Directory rd directory name or

path This command will delete the

directory specified. You should note that you are required to delete the innermost files before attempting to delete the directory, i.e. Delete the subfolder's contents then the subfolders then delete the main folder.

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When manipulating files, you are always required to give the file's extension along with its name.

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1- To Rename a File ren old file name or path

new file name If the file you wish to rename is located

directly inside the directory you are in, you may specify the old and new file's name without its path.

Otherwise, you are required to type in the complete path for the old file name only.

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2-To Copy a File from one Directory to another

copy file name or path directory name or path

This command puts a copy of the specified file inside the given directory.

If you want to copy all of the files in a directory, use

copy directory path\* destination directory's name or path

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3-To Copy a File from one Directory to another but with a Different Name

copy original file name or path copy file name or path

This command puts a copy of the original file in the destination specified but with a different name.

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4- To Move a File from one Directory to another

move file name or path directory name or path

This command moves the specified file to the directory provided.

If you want to move all of the files in a directory, use

move directory path\* destination directory's name or path

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5-To Move a File from one Directory to another but with a Different Name

move file name or path new file path

This command moves the specified file to the location given and renames it.

6-To Delete a File del file name or path This command results in the deletion of the

specified file. If you want to delete all of the files in a directory, use

del directorypath\* 25

7- To Format a Disketteformat a:

This command results in the formatting of the diskette located in drive A.

Anything on the diskette will be deleted.

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