File and Folder CLI Commands

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AgendaOverview of OS functions and the SHELLInternal v External CommandsCommand HistoryMaking & Modifying DirectoriesMaking & Modifying Files

Application Program Layer

Operating System Layer

Hardware Layer

User Interface (shell)

File Management

Device Management

Task Management

Application Program Layer

Operating System Layer

Hardware Layer

User Interface (shell) cmd.exe

File Management

Device Management

Task Management

OPEN FILE

CLI Syntax

Command tells CLI “what” user wants to doParameter tells CLI “where” user wants the

command to happen. (A:)Switch (or Option) tells CLI “how” the user

wants the command to be executedC:\> COPY /A /V myfile.txt e:\backup\

Switch/A ASCII file

/V Verify after copying

Parameter 1Source

Parameter 2Target

CommandPrompt

Drive and path

Internal CommandsInternal commands

are built into the command interpreter cmd.exeInstalled with OSNo disk accessFaster performance

Examples: CD, CHDIR COPY DEL DIR ECHO GOTO REN, RENAME RD, RMDIR SET START TITLE PAUSE

External Commandsexternal commands

that are not built into the command interpreter cmd.exeInstalled in separate

folderDisk Access requiredSlower performance

Examples: TREE MORE HELP IPCONFIG PING ATTRIB XCOPY SORT NET

Command History DOSKEYF7 – to list commands to dateF9 – to select command number and place on

the command lineF3 – to repeat previous commandUP Arrow – to scroll previous commandF2 – edits previous command line up to the

identified character

Same Explorer information, but different views

C:\

IOS110

LecturesLecture1.txtLecture1.pps

LabLab1.htmLab2.draft.htm

Root

Child

Child

Child\Parent

File Names You can use most characters in a file name

although there are some illegal ones: / \ : * ? " < > |

File names can be up to 255 characters and can use upper and lower case, spaces and multiple extensions

Win16 programs must use 8.3 rule XP automatically creates a “short file name”

or “alias” Long file name (LFN) e.g.

The little brown fox.foxx.jan.doc Alias Thelit~1.doc

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C:\

IOS110

LecturesLecture1.txtLecture1.pps

LabLab1.htmLab2.draft.htm

Absolute path defines a file or directory from the root

Relative path defines a file or directory from the working directory (its position in the directory tree)

\IOS110\lab\lab1.htm

..\..\lab1.htm

Make a directory (MD, MKDIR) To create or make a directory type md or

mkir at the prompt, with the name of the directory

For example, to create a file called data, use the command: MD data

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Change Directory (CD,CHDIR)To switch between directories, we use the CD

command (chdir will also work).Note: if you use the CD command and

misspell the directory or enter a directory that does not exist, you will receive an error message.”the system cannot find the path specified”

To go to the root from anywhere type cd\To go up one directory (parent) type cd ..To go up 2 levels type cd ..\..

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Remove Directory (RD) To remove an empty directory, the RD

command works well. If your directory is not empty though, you

need to add the /s switch to delete a “directory tree”

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PracticeCreate two directories January and

February under the root of C:. Create three directories under January:

tests, quizzes and labsCreate the same three directories under

February.Navigate to the c:\February\quizzes

directory.How would you get from this directory to

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Absolute Pathnames ExerciseCreate a directory called week2 under the

root of C:\ you would type:C:\> MD c:\week2 or C:\> MD \week2 (TRY IT)

Once that directory has been created, let’s say you want to create a subdirectory called prac2 in week2.

Using absolute pathnames you would type C:\> MD \week2\prac2 (TRY IT)

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Absolute Pathnames PracticeCreate a directory called cars under the root of C:\Create the following directories using absolute

paths onlyC:\cars\SUVsC:\cars\compactC:\cars\sportsC:\cars\SUVs\escapeC:\cars\SUVs\tributeWhen you are done, run the command TREE \cars

For more absolute path information click here

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Relative PathnamesInstead of working from the root, we work

from our current or working directory.

For example, if you were in the c:\apps directory and wanted to create a directory called word within the apps directory, you would simple type:

MD word

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Relative Pathnames ExercisesWe have the following directory structure:C:\AppsC:\Apps\wordC:\Apps\GhostAssuming you were in the Apps\Ghost

directory and you wanted to create a directory in the root of C:\ called Games.

You could type MD ..\..\gamesThe ..\..\ brings you up two levels back to

the root.

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DIR commandIf you want to see a listing of all of the files and

folders in a given directory or even your entire system, then this is the command to use.

DIR always lists the contents of your working directory unless you specify a directory such as:

DIR c:\2005\JanuaryThis command will list the contents of the

January directory.If you were in the January directory then

simply typing the command DIR would also display the contents of the January directory.

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Viewing Text FilesIf all you want to do is view the contents of a file,

then use the TYPE command. TYPE [path to file] will display the contents of the

file to the screenHowever, if file is large it will scroll past very fast.

For large files use Type file1.txt | moreThe “|” pipe symbol is used to filter the output one

page at a timeMore file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt

More is a better command but is “external”. It automatically filters input and provides a “submenu” for greater control

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Create a Text FileNotepadEditCopy conNote: remember the path where you saved

them!!To help you remember display the full path to

the file in the title barIn an Explorer window go to Tools\Folder

Options\View and click “Display Full Path in Title Bar”

DEL (Delete) commandTo delete a file, use the DEL command.You can delete multiple files at once by using

wildcards.Remember, use the RD command to remove

empty directories

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