The Command Console of Windows NT/2000/XP/2003
Last Updated: 06 Mar 2006
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*** PLEASE NOTE: Link(s), If Provided, May Be Wrapped ***
The command line processor in DOS and Windows 3.x/9x is
COMMAND.COM. In Windows NT/2000/XP and beyond, this
16-bit console gives way to CMD.EXE, a fully 32-bit
command line interface (CLI) for executing various
commands and shell scripts. In fact, the 16-bit console
running under NT and above, performs its functionality
by passing the commands to the 32-bit shell processor.
While you can still run COMMAND.COM in NT, 2000 and XP,
it is highly advised that you use CMD.EXE which has far
greater functionality and flexibility.
Although the GUI has some merit, and will allow someone
unfamiliar with a system to be somewhat productive, the
CLI is the ultimate interface for power users, and is
the preferred mechanism for automating various computing
tasks, particularly across multiple systems.
To access the CLI in NT/2000/XP/2003, do the following:
START --> RUN --> CMD
The best way to obtain syntax help for the various CLI
commands is in the following manner:
name_of_command /?
EXAMPLES:
IF /?
CMD /?
FOR /?
SET /?
CALL /?
GOTO /?
SETLOCAL /?
ENDLOCAL /?
ADDITIONAL COMMAND-LINE INFO -- MICROSOFT LINKS
• START --> RUN --> CMD --> HELP
• START --> Help --> Windows NT Commands (NT4)
• START --> Help --> Reference --> MS-DOS Commands (Win2K)
• http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/proddocs/ntcmds.asp
• http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/proddocs/ntcmds_o.asp
• http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/proddocs/standard/ntcmds.asp
ADDITIONAL COMMAND-LINE INFO -- 3RD PARTY LINKS
• http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/Scripts/?File=!Contents.TXT
• http://screamer.mobrien.com/manuals/MPRM_Group/command-console-shell.html
• http://www.cotse.com/Ntcommands/ntcmdsCommands_Index1.html
• http://windows2000.about.com/cs/batchscriptingtips/
• http://labmice.techtarget.com/articles/batchcmds.htm
• http://www.win32scripting.com/
TEXT EDITORS
Here are some cool text editors for creating batch files
(otherwise known as Shell Scripts):
• Admin Script Editor .... http://www.adminscripteditor.com/editor/features.asp
• Boxer Text Editor ...... http://www.boxersoftware.com/
• ConTEXT ................ http://fixedsys.com/context/
• Crimson Editor ......... http://www.crimsoneditor.com/
• GWD Text Editor ........ http://www.gwdsoft.com/
• PrimalScript ........... http://www.sapien.com/products.htm
• TextPad ................ http://www.textpad.com/
• UltraEdit .............. http://www.ultraedit.com/
• Visual DialogScript .... http://www.dialogscript.com/en/
SCRIPT COMPILERS
• Batch File Compiler .... http://www.bdargo.com/
BOOKS -- https://brainwavecc.com/Library.html
• Windows NT Shell Scripting
• Windows NT Scripting Administrator's Guide
• Windows 2000 System Administrator's Black Book
PERSONAL NOTES
• My text editor of choice is http://www.textpad.com/
• The "NT Shell Scripting" book by Tim Hill is an
incredible resource as well...
• You can redirect all output from a batch file to a
logfile at the command line.
Example: MyBatch.BAT >C:\Temp\MyLog.LOG
• If you spend any time at the command line, you'll
want to enable "Completion Characters" in NT/2000/XP.
• Don't forget to surround long file/folder names, or
variables that will contain long names, with double
quotes.
RELATED SCRIPTS (ALSO IN THIS ARCHIVE)
• http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/Scripts/?File=Command.KIX
• http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/Scripts/?File=ConsoleOptions.KIX
• http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/Scripts/?File=ConsoleOptions.VBS
• http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/Scripts/?File=SystemOptions.VBS
RELATED TOPICS (ALSO IN THIS ARCHIVE)
• http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/?File=LogonScripts.TXT
• http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/?File=QuoteMarks.TXT
• http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/?File=Scripting.TXT
• http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/?File=EnvVars.TXT
• http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/?File=Unix.TXT
