DOS
What is a command
Commands
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 used 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 in the Command.COM file while
switching to the 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)
which are assembled for one
particular purpose and considered
as one unit
Stored in permanent storage like
hard disk, diskettes,etc.
Types of Files
Files can broadly be categorized into
two types:
Executable Files
Non-Executable Files (Data Files)
What are EXE Files
Exe Files:
Program files that run or execute
themselves
Have either COM or EXE or BAT as
extension
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
computers memory so that users
can reference it as it is required
Also called a catalog of files
Root Directory
The Root directory is that
directory that is automatically
created when the disk is
formatted
It is the current drive that we
have been 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 which you are currently
working
Parent directory is that directory
which is one level up of the
current directory
E.g. C:\Ram\Hari>
Current directory
Parent directory
Root directory
Getting into MS DOS
To start MS DOS,
click on the Start
button and
choose Run
In the Run dialog
box, type CMD or
COMMAND which
is the EXE file for
MS DOS
Click on the OK
button
Listing the Directories and
Files in MS DOS
For listing the Sub-directories and
Files within a directory, we use the
DIR command
Syntax :
DIR [Directory_name]
E.g. C:\>DIR NCIT
Displays all the directories/files within the
directory NCIT
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Dir/p : -Display file and directory page wise.
Dir/w :- Display file And directory in horizontal
Style.
Dir/p/ w:- Display file And directories page wise
and horizontal style also.
Dir/ah :-Display all hidden files and directories.
Dir/a-d : - Display only files.
Dir/ad :- Display only Directories.
Dir/a/s:-Display all directory and file with
subdirectory.
Dir/a :- Display All Hidden And Non hidden file
and directories.
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 we use the CD.. Or CD\
commands
The CD.. Command switches from
the current directory to the Parent
directory whereas the CD\
command switches from the
current directory to the Root
directory
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 three 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 displays all the
contents that are in the file.
Syntax :
TYPE Filename
Renaming Files
For renaming the files in MS DOS
we use the REN Command
Syntax:
REN oldfilename newfilename
Deleting Files in MS
DOS
For deleting files in MS DOS we
use the 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 be 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:\]NCIT\file1.txt C:\NCITNGH
Copying Files in MS
DOS
Files
can be copied not only in the
same drive but in different drive, too.
For copying the files in different drive,
a complete location along with the
Drive specification should be
mentioned
Syntax :
C:\>COPY C:\NCIT\file1 D:\NCITNGH\NCIT
The MOVE Command
The MOVE Command in MS DOS is used
to permanently move the files from one
location to another.
The COPY command only copies the files
leaving the original one, whereas the MOVE
command does not leave any copy
Syntax :
C:\>MOVE source_file destination_directory
E.g.
C:\>MOVE c:\NCIT\file1 D:\NCIT1\file2
The VOL Command
The VOL command is used to check
the Volume of the Disk-drive. It
displays the volume 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 current time from the system.
Syntax :
C:\>DATE
E.g. C:\>DATE
External Commands
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.
The Label Command
The Label command is used to
check the label of the disk that
you have been 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 directories/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 disk
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 compares the contents of two
disks (hard disk or floppy disk). The system
first reads the contents 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 disk for use by organizing the disk
into magnetic 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 specified disk
Syntax :
C:\>TREE [disk_name]
E.g.
C:\>TREE A:
The EDIT Command
The EDIT command in MS DOS is used
to edit the files. It provides a different
full screen 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 view the contents of directories or
files one line after the another, I.e. it
displays one line at one 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 used to print the text files
Syntax :
PRINT Filename
E.g.
PRINT File1.txt
The PROMPT Command
The PROMPT is used to configure
a DOS prompt into our linking
Syntax :
C:\ PROMPT Promptname
E.g.
PROMPT NCIT
Now, the Prompt will be as NCIT
