`#del`
A>del *.*
Are you sure? (Y/N)
MS-DOS gives you a second chance
before you erase all the files in
the current directory.
`#del`
`#ram`
RAM ......... random access memory
The computer's short term memory.
Programs must be loaded into RAM from
a disk before they can be executed.
`#ram`
`#disk`
FLOPPY DISK .. low capacity/removable
HARD DISK .... high capacity/fixed
`#disk`
`#prog`
Programs are collections of machine
language codes which instruct the
computer what to do. These codes are
"binary" ones and zeros.
`#prog`
`FILES`
`FILES`
`BEGIN`
=======================================================================
MS-DOS Tutorial
Hypertext by Richard Rathe MD
Copyright 1988 by Medical Decisions Software
=======================================================================
~INTRODUCTION~0~intro~ ~OVERVIEW~0~prompt~
~FILES~0~files~ ~DIRECTORIES~0~direct~
~COMMANDS~0~comm~ ~INDEX~0~index~
~AUTHOR and COPYRIGHT~0~author~
MS-DOS tm MicroSoft Corp.
IBM-PC tm International Business Machines Corp.
`BEGIN`
`intro`
INTRODUCTION - What is an Operating System?
=======================================================================
"MS-DOS" stands for MicroSoft Disk Operating System.
"MS" tells us that MS-DOS is a product of the MicroSoft
corporation. The word "disk" is historical - not all early
computers used floppy disks as found on the IBM-PC. So what is
an "operating system"? To understand this one must first look at
the two basic divisions of a desk top computer, hardware and
software.
Hardware is "hard" because we can reach out and touch
it. Software is "soft" for the opposite reason. Although we can
touch the disk or tape a program is recorded on, the program
itself is intangible, much like music on a cassette tape. An
operating system provides the essential link between these
~physical and logical worlds~0~hardsoft~.
MS-DOS is a special piece of software which understands
the internal workings of an IBM-PC. It is one of several
possible operating systems for the IBM-PC class of computers.
MS-DOS represents the closest thing to a "standard" operating
system for this type of computer.
The MS-DOS software has an intimate association with the
computer's hardware. The computer could not "run" without this
association. MS-DOS is the entity which "knows" how to run a
program, how to read and write a disk, and how to recover from
errors (sometimes). As you can see, anyone using an IBM-PC will,
for better or worse, come to rely on MS-DOS.
~CONTINUE TUTORIAL~0~prompt~
`intro`
`hardsoft`
#=================#
| |
"SOFTWARE" | ~PROGRAMS~0~#prog~ |
| |
|-----------------|
| |
| MS-DOS | <-> ~command.com~0~com~
Logical | |
-------------------|-----------------|--------------------
Physical | |
| COMPUTER | <-> keyboard/screen
| |
|-----------------|
| || |
"HARDWARE" | ~RAM~0~#ram~ || ~DISK~0~#disk~ |
| || |
#=================#
`hardsoft`
`prompt`
`prompt2`
OVERVIEW - The "A" Prompt
=======================================================================
MS-DOS lets you know it is ready for action by
displaying a prompt on the screen:
A> (or some variation)
The "A" tells you that disk drive A is the current or
"logged" drive. This means that unless you specificly tell it,
the computer will read and write using drive A. Most computers
have at least two ~disk drives~0~#disk~, A and B (two floppies) or A and C
(one floppy/one hard). The most basic MS-DOS command changes the
current drive.
A> "C:"
The prompt will now change to:
C>
`prompt2`
Disk drives are always specified as a letter followed by
a colon. One can go back to drive A by issueing the command:
C> "A:"
Now that we have identified the disk we are interested
in the next logical question is, "What's on it?". The directory
command provides the answer.
A> "dir" might give:
Directory of A:\SAMPLE
.
01-06-86 7:30p
.. 01-06-86 7:30p
ed exe 45897 01-06-86 7:30p
junk txt 12034 03-15-88 10:04a
4 File(s) 301560 Bytes Free
Ignore the entries for this discussion and
concentrate on the other two. "ed" might be a text editor and
"junk" might be the text ~file~0~file2~ we wish to edit. The
complete entry for "junk" reads:
firstname: junk
lastname: txt
size: 12034 bytes
created: March 15th 1988 at 10:04 AM
What if we'd like to take a quick peek at "junk" to make
sure it is the file we are interested in? Again MS-DOS has an
answer:
A> "type junk.txt" might give:
This is a junk file.
This file is not about anything in particular.
It just rambles on...
etc.
Notice the use of a period "." to separate the first name
from the last name of the file. Finally, we might decide to get
rid of this file and edit a new one:
A> "del junk.txt" (delete a file)
A> "ed" (run program "ed.exe")
~CONTINUE TUTORIAL~0~files~
`prompt`
`files`
`file2`
FILES
====================================================================
The basic package of information on a floppy or hard
disk is the file. Files may be either programs or data. Each
file has a filename associated with it of the form:
firstname.lastname
firstname = up to 8 letters or digits
period (dot) "."
lastname = up to 3 letters or digits (optional)
`file2`
This allows similar or related files to be grouped by
common first and last names. Furthermore, MS-DOS allows the use
of two "wildcard" characters to specify a group of files using a
single filename.
`wild`
* ... match zero or more characters
? ... match zero or one character
"junk*" matches:
junk junk1 junk2 junkyard
"junk?" matches:
junk junk1 junk2 (not junkyard)
"*.txt" matches:
hello.txt letter.txt junk.txt
"*.*" matches:
all filenames
`wild`
`prog`
There are special last names for certain types of files:
".exe" or ".com" for programs
These are "machine language" or binary files. They are
unreadable as text but they may be executed by MS-DOS. To run a
program simply type in its first name.
".bat" for batch files
These are "command language" files. They may be edited
as plain text. MS-DOS commands and other programs can be
"batched" together to run in a certain sequence under one name.
To run a batch file simply type in its first name.
`prog`
".sys" for system configuration files
These files specify any additions or non-standard
changes to the MS-DOS system.
There are also files used by MS-DOS itself:
autoexec.bat
This is the MS-DOS start-up batch file. This will be
the first command issued by MS-DOS after it is loaded. Any
number of start-up commands may be contained in this file.
config.sys
This is the system configuration file.
`com`
command.com
This is the MS-DOS command processor. This program is
automaticly run by MS-DOS. It has three basic functions:
1)prompt the user with ~"A>"~0~prompt2~ to signal that the
system is ready to do business
2) provide the ~"internal" commands~0~incomm~
(dir, type, del, etc.),
3) run programs and batch files.
`com`
~CONTINUE TUTORIAL~0~direct~
`files`
`direct`
`subdir`
DIRECTORIES
=======================================================================
Any disk may be divided into "directories". This
provides a convenient way of segregating files which belong
together from the rest of the files on a disk. The importance of
directories becomes clear as soon as you have to deal with
hundreds or thousands of individual files on a hard disk.
Directories are arranged in a branching tree like
structure. Every disk has at least one directory called the
"root" directory. The root directory is always represented by
the "\" character.
"C:\" (drive C / root directory)
Other directories are created as the user sees fit. They
are considered "subdirectories" of the root directory. These
subdirectories may have their own subdirectories and so on
creating a ~directory tree~0~dirtree~. A directory name is built by
listing each subdirectory in order separated by a "\":
"C:\USER\MARK\LETTERS"
Directory specifications may be added to a file name to
make its location specific for the computer:
"C:\USER\MARK\LETTERS\MOM.LET"
There can be several files called "mom.let" as long as they
are in different directories.
`subdir`
There are three MS-DOS commands used to manipulate
directories:
CD - change directory
MD - make directory
RD - remove directory
They are all used in the same way:
"md jim" (make subdirectory ...\JIM in current directory)
"cd jim" (change to subdirectory ...\JIM)
"cd .." (change back to parent directory)
"rd jim" (remove subdirectory ...\JIM)
Notice that these commands are relative to your current
position in the ~directory tree~0~dirtree~. If you started in directory
"\USER" then "md jim" would create "\USER\JIM". The shorthand
".." represents the parent directory, in this case "\USER".
To remove a directory it must be empty ("~del~0~#del~ ~*.*~0~wild~") and the
parent directory must be current. CD without a directory
specification will always return your current position.
Subdirectories appear with a "" after them in any
directory listing:
Directory of A:\USER
. 01-06-86 7:30p
.. 01-06-86 7:30p
ed exe 45897 01-06-86 7:30p
junk txt 12034 03-15-88 10:04a
jim 03-14-88 1:24p
5 File(s) 301560 Bytes Free
~CONTINUE TUTORIAL~0~comm~
`direct`
`dirtree`
LEVEL
"\USER\MARK\LETTERS" "\USER\MARK\PROJECT" 3
| |
|______"\USER\MARK"_____| "\USER\JANE" 2
| |
"\PROG" |________"\USER_______| 1
| |
|__________"\"___________| 0
|
DIRECTORY TREE STRUCTURE
`dirtree`
`comm`
MS-DOS COMMANDS
======================================================================
~Internal commands~0~incomm~ are provided by "command.com" and are
"built-in" to MS-DOS. They are available anytime you see the
"A>" prompt.
~External commands~0~excomm~ are ordinary programs which are
released as part of the MS-DOS system. They perform accessory
functions that are not part of the formal operating system.
`comm`
`incomm`
INTERNAL MS-DOS COMMANDS
======================================================================
`a:`
A:, B:, C:, etc. - change drive
Purpose: set default disk drive
Usage: X: where X is the new drive letter
Example: A> C: --> C>
`a:`
`cd`
CD - change directory
Purpose: display/set default directory
Usage: cd [directory]
Example: cd --> current directory
cd \user --> change to directory \USER
`cd`
`copy`
COPY - copy file
Purpose: copy/concatenate file(s)
Usage: copy source [distination]
Example: copy a:*.* c: --> copy all file(s) on A to C
copy junk1+junk2+junk3 junkall ---> three into one
`copy`
`date`
DATE - system date
Purpose: display/set system date
Usage: date
Example: date --> 03-11-88
`date`
`del`
DEL - delete
Purpose: delete file(s)
Usage: del filename
Example: del *.txt --> files with last name "txt" deleted
Note: <<< THIS COMMAND IS DANGEROUS!!! >>>
~del *.*~0~#del~ erases an entire directory
`del`
`dir`
DIR - directory
Purpose: list files in directory
Usage: dir [drive] [directory] [filename]
Example: dir \user --> files in \USER directory
`dir`
`md`
MD - make directory
Purpose: make new subdirectory
Usage: md directory
Example: md user --> make subdirectory USER in \
`md`
`path`
PATH - search path
Purpose: set program search path(s)
Usage: path [directory];[directory]...
Example: path c:\;c:\prog
`path`
`rd`
RD - remove directory
Purpose: remove a subdirectory
Usage: rd directory
Example: rd user --> \USER removed
`rd`
`ren`
REN - rename
Purpose: rename a file
Usage: ren oldfile newfile
Example: ren letter.txt jack.let
`ren`
`time`
TIME - system time
Purpose: display/set system time
Usage: time
Example: time --> 10:23:00
`time`
`type`
TYPE - type file to screen
Purpose: view text files
Usage: type filename
Example: type junk.txt
`type`
`incomm`
`excomm`
EXTERNAL MS-DOS COMMANDS
======================================================================
`diskcopy`
DISKCOPY - copy entire disk
Purpose: making backup copies of working disks
Usage: diskcopy
Example: diskcopy
`diskcopy`
`format`
FORMAT - format a disk
Purpose: prepare disk to receive data
Usage: format drive
Example: format a:
Note: <<< THIS COMMAND IS DANGEROUS!!! >>>
Formatting a disk erases everything on it.
`format`
`print`
PRINT - print file(s)
Purpose: send one or more files to the printer
Usage: print filename [filename...]
Example: print file1 file2 file3
`print`
`sys`
SYS - copy operating system
Purpose: create a MS-DOS system disk
any other disks are data only
Usage: sys drive
Example: sys a:
`sys`
`tree`
TREE - list directory tree structure
Purpose: show all directories (and files)
Usage: tree
Example: tree
`tree`
`excomm`
`index`
INDEX
===================================================================
~A: command~0~a:~ ~A> prompt~0~prompt2~
~author~0~author~ ~basic commands~0~prompt~
~batch files~0~prog~ ~CD change directory~0~cd~
~COPY~0~copy~ ~DATE~0~date~
~DELete~0~del~ ~DIRectory~0~dir~
~directory tree~0~dirtree~ ~DISKCOPY~0~diskcopy~
~external commands~0~excomm~ ~filenames~0~files~
~FORMAT~0~format~ ~hardware vs software~0~hardsoft~
~internal commands~0~incomm~ ~introduction~0~intro~
~MD make directory~0~md~ ~PATH~0~path~
~PRINT~0~print~ ~programs~0~prog~
~RD remove directory~0~rd~ ~REName~0~ren~
~subdirectories~0~subdir~ ~SYS~0~sys~
~TIME~0~time~ ~TREE~0~tree~
~TYPE~0~type~ ~wildcards~0~wild~
`index`
`author`
AUTHOR and COPYRIGHT
=======================================================================
Author: Richard Rathe MD
Purpose: Basic MS-DOS instruction
Release: Shareware distribution with the HYTEXT hypertext system
Copyright: Medical Decisions Software
30 Harris ST, #6
Acton, MA 01720
MAY BE COPIED BUT NOT SOLD FOR PROFIT!!
Please see your MS-DOS documentation for specific
details about your version of MS-DOS. This hypertext is only a guide.
The author has made every attempt to supply accurate information
however, NO LIABILITY ON THE PART OF THE AUTHOR OR COPYRIGHT HOLDER
IS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED!
`author`