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C:\WAPPS\WINWORD\TEMPLATE\NORMAL.DOT Charles V. Balch Charles V. Balch MS-DOS v6.2 Charles V. Balch, Last Revision Spring 93 DOS & Application Programs MS-DOS or PC-DOS, often called just DOS, are programs used for systems tasks. System tasks involve maintenance and control of files and hardware. Other programs, called applications, are used to manipulate data files. Examples include WordPerfect and Lotus 123. Applications are always loaded from a disk. File Names Computers group information into directories and files. File and directory names must be unique groups of eight alphanumeric characters or less, a period, then three alphanumeric characters or less - no punctuation I.E. 12345678.ABC. Most applications assign a unique three letter extension to the data files they create. Directories do not have extensions. As a rule, let your application add the extension. Syntax of Commands It is important to understand the syntax of the commands on the opposite page: filename indicates that files matching that name will be affected. Wild Cards For DOS commands that can affect more than one file, the symbols “*” and “?” used as a wild cards to match multiple files. * matches many characters and ? matches a single character. I.E.: “*.*” matches all files; “A*.*” matches all files whose names begin with the letter A; “example.txt” would only match the file example.txt. File Location Files are organized and grouped into directories and subdirectories. Each disk has it's own directory structure. The location of a file is called it's path (the drive is part of the path). A complete filename includes it's path. You can often use less than a complete path name. Usually you can skip the parts of the path that are included in your prompt. File Extensions There are special meanings to the three letter extensions of files. All executable program (application) filenames end with the three letter extensions “EXE,” “COM” or “BAT.” To invoke an executable file you simply type its name. A special file called "AUTOEXEC.BAT" is executed when your computer is started. BAT files are also called "batch" files. While you will not normally create an EXE or COM file it is easy to create batch files. Batch files are text files that contain a series of commands that you would normally give at the prompt. Primary Vs Auxiliary Storage There are two types of storage on computers. Primary storage (RAM) is used by the data and program that is currently invoked. Auxiliary storage (disk) is used to store all other files. When you access a program through an application, you are copying that program from your disk to RAM. Until you save the changes back to disk, you are only changing the RAM copy. Special Notes Not all commands work on all computers. You will find the following DOS commands on most (but not all computers). Each new version of DOS adds new commands. If you type help followed by a DOS command (I.E. HELP DIR), you will get instructions on how to use that command. Typing HELP by itself will result in a list of all DOS commands. All the following commands work on UVI computers and must be given at the DOS command prompt (they will not work from within programs). Selected DOS 6.2 Commands Command Description A: or B: or C: Switch to indicated disk drive CD p1 Change Directories to the indicated path COPY *.* B:\ Copy all files in current directory to B drive COPY file1 file2 Copy the named file(s) in file1 to file2 DEL filename Erases the indicated file(s) List files in current directory DIR *.xxx Would display all files that end with .xxx DIR /file /s Searches the disk for file location DISKCOPY B: B: Makes a copy of the disk in drive B: FORMAT b: Format the disk in Drive B: as a DSHD disk (erases disk). FORMAT B: /F:720 Format the disk in Drive B as a DSDD disk (erases disk!) HELP Lists all DOS Commands HELP DOSCOMMAND Gives instruction on the specified DOS command MD p1 Make a new Directory at current location MEMMAKER Fine tunes your systems memory (UVI memory is already tuned). MSAV Check for viruses REN filename1 filename2 Renames file1 with the name file2 SCANDISK Checks to make sure that a disk is physically “good.” UNDELETE /DOS Recover lost files Normal Heading 1 Heading 2 Heading 3 Heading 4 Heading 5 Heading 6 Default Paragraph Font Endnote Text figure figureT Heading UVZc0 Index TOC 5 TOC 1 TOC 4 TOC 3 TOC 2 Telecom_In Telecom_Out Index 2 Index 1 Header Footnote Reference Footnote Text Normal Indent Bibliography Example Quote Table List TitlePage Telecom Page_Heading Title_Heading Table Heading roseann Charles V. Balch C:\!DOCS\CLASSDOC\DOSCMNDS.DOCÿ@PostScript Printer LPT1: pscript Apple LaserWriter Plus Apple LaserWriter Plus Symbol Times Tms Rmn Courier New Palatino Courier Helv Charles V. Balch Charles V. Balch