Internal Command

DOS commands for which the specifications are available in Shell (Command.com) are
calledinternal commands. These are frequently used commands, and are called resident
commands.

DOS Commands for which specifications are not internally available in command.com are called
External Commands. They reside in the disk in the form of executable program files. They will
be loaded into primary memory only at the time of execution.

Directory Structure of DOS: One thing is to be kept in mind is

that a directory can have as many child (sub) directories, but the child directory can have only
one parent directory.

1. CLS: this command is used to clean the screen.

2. DIR: this command allows the user to see all files and sub-directory in the current
directory. DIR Command lists file information in five columns; (first) column gives primary
name of the file (second) column gives extension of the file (third) column gives the file size -
number of bytes used; (fourth) column gives the last updated date; (fifth) column gives the last
updated time.

Dir/p - page by page display of file name and directory names;

Dir/w - width-wise display;

Dir/s - displays all sub directory and files in the sub-directory of current directory.

3. Copy con  this command copies whatever typed on keyboard to the file; the file
can be closed by giving the command A2 or F6 key: eg: Copy con test .....A2.

4. Date  it displays two system date and allows the user to change it if desired ; it is
displayed in the form of mm - dd - yy; eg:c:\> date - enter.

5.  Time it displays the system type and enables the user to change it; eg: C:\> Time -
enter.

6.  md(mkdir)  it creates a new directory in sub directory in the current directory; eg:
C:\> md <New directory name>

7. rd(rmdir)  this command is used to remove a directory from the disk; it can't
remove a directory which contains sub directory or files, ie, the child should be removed from
the parent; similarly this command can't remove the current directory and root directory. Syntax:
c:\> RD<Dir name>.

8. Type it displays the content of saved file; eg: C:\> Type> file name.
9. Ren this command changes the name of existing file or directory: Syntax: C:\> ren <old
name> new name>

10. Delete delete a file from current directory; Syntax: C;\> del<file name>

11. Ver it displays the version of DOS currently being used in the system; Syntax: C:> ver

12. Copy it copies the given file or files from the source directory to the largest directory;
Syntax:C:\> copy<source file name> <target file name>.

13.  Prompt  allows the user to set a new DOS prompt instead of usual C:\> or A:\>; eg
C:\> prompt pcc; Prompt$p$g - this allows you to reset default prompt; Prompt $d (current date);
Prompt $t (current time);

External Command
1. Attrib this command is used for protecting the files from accidental changes or
modification. It can also be used for making a hidden file, archive files, read only files; Syntax:
Attrib +R/-R/+H/-H/+A/-A <file name> +FR protects the file by making it read only, -R
removes the read only protection; eg: Attrib + r <file name >

2. Scandisk/ Chkdisk  this command checks the status of the disk; it shows
a graphical display, information about the user file.

3. Tree  this command graphically displays the path of each directory and sub directory in
given drive; Syntax: C:\> tree<

4. More  it displays one screen of data at a time and is used with another command when
one screen is full; if you press any key on the next screen is displayed: Syntax C:\> type abc.doc|
more.

5. Edit  the command loads the MSDOS editor, where we can edit files, create new files,
open existing files; Syntax: C:\> edit < file name>

6. Label  a label is a name given to a disk which refers to collection of filers and
directories on disk; Syntax: C:\>label A.

7. Sort  this command is used for sorting data and displaying the result on the screen:
Syntax:C:\>dir/sort/r (reverse order)
  Format; 
8. this command prepares a disk by arranging random magnetic impulses in
to a series of track and sectors so that it is addressable by a DOS version; Syntax : C:\> format
A:/s

 Sys 
9. this command transfers MSDOS System files to specified areas to make the disk boo
table; Syntax: C:\>Sys A:<

10 Pipes (|)  it connects two files ie the standard output of one filter command becomes
standard input of another filter; eg Dir/Sort/ more ||

11. Batchfiles  all batch files on DOS must have the file extn on bat to execute the
batch file, the user has just type the file name and press enter key, in addition to usual DOS
command.

12. Echo this command can be used to display a message on the screen

13. Pause when this command is obeyed, the system waits for the user to press a key by
displaying a line "strike a key when ready"

14.  Rem  a command or remark can be used on batch file by the rem command; to symbol
@ can be put in a REM command to prevent DOS from displaying the commend during the
execution of batch files.

Config.Sys the purpose of this file is to tell DOS how to configure the computer; it contains
configurable parameters of DOS, such as number of drives, files, buffers that can be opened at a
time.

break - ON/OFF it can be used to change the frequency to check the break character (Ctrl+c,
ctrl+break); it break + OFF, then the frequency of checking is less, otherwise it is ON, then it
makes DOS extensively check the break character.

Buffer = 20/10 it tells DOS how many disk buffers be maintained; the default
value is 2 each buffers of 528 bytes (512 + 16); this feature is needed for file manipulation,
because the performance increase with the addition of buffers.

Device: Ansi.Sys/V Disk.Sys/Tapeover it tells DOS

how to include a particular device driver which controls and configure a device such as Floppy
disl or Tape Unit.

Files = 10/20/30 it tells DOS how many files to be opened at one time, its
default value is 8; a max of 99 files can be opened at a time

Stacks = 15, 128it tells DOS the number of stacks to be used by the H/W interrupts; the default
value is 9 with 128 byte.
Shell = Command.com it tells DOS to install the command processor
from a particular path such as Shell = C:\DOS\ Command.com