Command Prompt also known as Command Line Interface (CLI). This article will introduce CLI in Windows and how to use Command Prompt to interact computer.
1. MS DOS (MicroSoft Disk Operating System)
MS DOS is an operating system with CLI (Command Line Interface), was introduced in May 1982 by Microsoft Corporation. It is a single-tasking Operating System that allows only a single application to be run at a time. Later Windows Operating Systems are multi-tasking Operating systems.
Later Microsoft Operating Systems became more user-friendly thanks to the Windows interface. But Microsoft still retains the command line interface with the name Command Prompt (CMD).
To use CMD, press Windows + R key combination, then type cmd.exe.
2. Commands in CLI
2.1. File and directory commands
File used to store information, the operating system distinguishes files by name:
filename = <name>.[extension]
In there:
- name: required, up to 255 characters, use only alphanumeric characters, _, no spaces.
- extension: may or may not, be used to determine the file type and maximum of 3 characters.
For example, the following files are valid: BAITAP.TXT, HOSO.DOC, HO_SO.DOC. The following files are invalid: BAI!.TXT, BAI TAP.DOC, HOSO..DOC.
Folder used to store files and subdirectories. On each partition, there is a root directory, denoted by “\”.
Note: Do not name files or folders as: CON, COM1, COM2, PRN, LPT1, LPT2,… because they have the same names as the devices.
Path is the location of the folder or file. The path starts at the root directory (written after the partition name), between folders separated by a “\”. For example: C:\GiangDay\baitap.txt.
There are two types of paths:
- The absolute path is the path starting from the partition. For example : C:\GiangDay\BaiTap\KTLT
- A relative path is a path that does not start from the partition. When using relative paths, the current directory must be specified. For example: BaiTap\KTLT in current directory C:\GiangDay.
#help command
If you want to know the syntax of any command, use the help command. For example: help dir
#Command to change current partition
For example, change to partition E, type the command “E:” and then press enter.
#Command to view the list of files and directories
DIR [path] /P /S /A
In there:
- /P (page): view by page
- /S (sub-directory): view the list of files of the directory including in subdirectories
- /A (attribute): files with any attribute
#Command to change current directory
CD [path]
#Command to create directory
MD [path]\[directoryname]
You can use MD C:\g\h\t to create 3 nested folders in the C partition.
#View tree-structured directory
TREE [path] /F |MORE
In there, /F (File): including file names in each directory, |MORE: stop each page.
#Remove Directory
RD [path] /S /Q
In there, /S (sub-directory): delete all directories and sub-files, /Q (Quiet): delete without asking.
2.2. Some other basic commands
#Create text file
COPY CON [path]\[filename]
Once created, press F6 or Ctrl-Z to save. If wrong, press Ctrl-C to cancel. For example: Create a file BAITAP.TXT in the HINH folder.
COPY CON C:\TOAN\HINH\BAITAP.TXT (press enter)
<type the contents of the file here> <F6> (press enter)
#View text file contents
TYPE [path] |MORE
#Rename files
REN [path]\[oldfilename] [newfilename]
For example: Rename the file BAITAP.TXT in the TOAN folder to BT.DOC:
REN C:\TOAN\BAITAP.TXT BT.DOC
#Move files and directories
MOVE [currentpath] [newfolderpath]
For example: Move file BAITAP.TXT from TOAN folder to LY folder:
MOVE C:\TOAN\BAITAP.TXT C:\LY
#Delete files
DEL [filepath]
For example: Delete files with extension TXT in the HINH folder:
DEL C:\TOAN\HINH\*.TXT
