Thread: Command Syntax Elements

(1) Command Name

The DOS command name is the name you enter to start the DOS program (a few of the DOS commands can be entered using shortcut names). The DOS command name is always entered first. Here in this book, we have opted for the command in uppercase letters. However, you can enter the command names in either the lowercase or in the uppercase or a mix of both.

(2) Space

While working in DOS, you should remember .to always leave a space after the command name.

(3) Drive Design,ation

The drive designation (abbreviated in this book as "d) is an option for many. DOS commands. However, some commands are not related to disk drives and, therefore, do not require a drive designation. Whenever you enter a DOS command that deals with disk drives and you are already working in the drive in question, you do not have to enter the drive designator.



For example, if you are working in drive A (when the DOS prompt A> is appearing at the left side of the screen) and you want to use the DIR command to display a directory listing of that same drive, you command directly without entering drive designation. Since, in this situation DOS always assumes that you are referring to the drive you are currently working in (sometimes called the "default" drive).

(4) A Colon

While referring to a drive in a DOS command, you must always follow the drive designator with a colon (. This is how DOS recognizes it as a drive designation.

(5) Pathname

A pathname (path) refers to the path that you want DOS to follow in order to act 9n the DOS command. The pathname indicates the path from the current directory or subdirectory to the files that are to be acted upon.

(6) Filename

A filename is the name of a file stored on the disk. A filename can be of eight or fewer letters or other legal characters.

(7) Filename Extension

A filename extension can follow the filename to further identify it. The extension follows a period (.) and can be of three or fewer characters. However, a filename extension is not required.

(8) Switches

Switches are referred to as characters shown in a command syntax that are represented by a letter or number and are preceded by a forward slash (for example, "/P") are command options (sometimes known as "switches"). Use of these options activate special operations as part of a DOS command's functions.

(9) Brackets

Brackets are items enclosed in square brackets. They are optional. In other words, the command will work in its basic form without entering the information contained inside the brackets.

(10) Ellipses

Ellipses indicate that an item in a command syntax can be repeated as many times as needed.

(11) Vertical Bar

When the items are separated by a vertical bar ( I ), it means that you can enter one of the separated items. For example: ON I OFF means that you can enter either ON or OFF, but not both.