2. 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
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Files can broadly be categorized into two
types:
Executable Files
Non-Executable Files (Data Files)
7. Exe Files:
Program files that run or execute
themselves
Have either COM or EXE or BAT as
extension
8. Non- executable files that contain only
the data that we produce
Cannot execute themselves
Need application program to run
9. 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
required
Also called a catalog of files
10. 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)
11. 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:RamHari>
Root directory
Parent directory
Current directory
12. 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
13. 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
14. 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
subdirectory.
8. Dir/a :- Display All Hidden And Non hidden file
and directories.
9. Dir n*.* :Display all file and directory starting
with ‘ n ’ alphabet.
15. For creating the Directory in MS DOS, we
use the MD (Make Directory)command
Syntax:
C:> MD NCIT
16. For changing the directory in MS DOS,
we use the CD (Change Directory) command
Syntax:
C:>CD NCIT
Now it appears as:
C:NCIT>
17. 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
18. 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
19. 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
20. For renaming the files in MS DOS we
use the REN Command
Syntax:
REN oldfilename newfilename
21. For deleting files in MS DOS we use the
DEL command
Syntax :
DEL Filename
22. 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
23. 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
24. 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:NCITfile1 D:NCITNGHNCIT
25. 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:NCITfile1 D:NCIT1file2
26. 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
27. 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]
28. 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
29. 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.
30. 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
31. 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
32. 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:
33. 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:
34. The TREE command is used to display
all directory pathnames on the specified
disk
Syntax :
C:>TREE [disk_name]
E.g.
C:>TREE A:
35. 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
36. 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
37. The PRINT Command in MS DOS is
used to print the text files
Syntax :
PRINT Filename
E.g.
PRINT File1.txt
38. 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
