A List of Internal Commands currently in the FreeCOM

    Currently the FreeCOM provides a number of DOS commands that are found in all standard DOS Command-Line Intrepreters. It also provides other commands as well as enhancements on the standard commands. The commands which are relitively standard to DOS (DOS 6.22 and earlier) are marked with a D, enhanced command with an E, new features with a F and new command with a N.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS LIST IS UNFINISHED

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Type Name Description Switches
F ALIAS Provides command name aliasing.
Format: ALIAS command-name new-command-name

The CLI will use new-command-name, if it exists, instead of command-name, when command-name is typed at the prompt.

NONE
N BEEP Makes a beep with the PC Speaker.

Format: BEEP

NONE
D CALL Runs another batch file and returns to the first batch file.

Format: CALL [d:][path]filename

NONE
D CHDIR / CD Changes or displays current directory.

Format: CHDIR [d:][path]

or

CD [d:][path]

CHDIR without parameter displays the current working directory.

NONE
D CLS Clears the screen.

Format: CLS

NONE
D DATE Reports and sets system date.

Format: DATE [mm-dd-yy] | [dd-mm-yy] | [yy-mm-dd]

DATE without parameters will display current date and day of the week, and prompt to input new date. Leaving new date empty will leave current date unchanged.

NONE
D DEL / ERASE Deletes files.

Format: DEL [d:][path]filename[.ext] [/P]

NOTES:

  • Global *.* causes a confirmation prompt; type N if you don't want to erase everything. Be careful with DEL \SUMDIR as DEL will assume: DEL \SUMDIR\*.*
  • Be careful when using * wildcards. DOS will stop reading characters on each side of the period when it sees an asterisk.
  • DEL . is interpretated as DEL *.*
    		• P - Interactive deletion; will prompt to delete each file.
    D DIR Lists files, sizes and creation/modification dates and times, as well as braching subdirectories.

    Format: DIR [d:][path][filename[.ext]] [/P] [/W] [/S] [/A] [/B] [/L]

    NOTES:

  • Default is DIR *.*
  • Although DIR S* will show all files that start with an 'S', it won't copy or delete them unless you use COPY S*.* or DEL S*.*.
  • The CLI will identify directories with <DIR> in the size column or < and > signs around the name when viewed in wide format.
    		• S -- Displays files in specified directory and subdirectories

    P -- Pauses after a screen full of information

    W -- Prints in wide format

    A -- Prints files with HIDDEN and SYSTEM attributes. Default is ARCHIVE and READ ONLY.

    B -- Prints in bare format, no header or file information

    L -- Prints in lower case

    F DOSKEY The DOSKEY command line editor has been available as an external program in many other DOS's. The FreeDOS CLI has built in DOSKEY function availble.

    You can use the DOSKEY function by pressing the UP and DOWN keys. This will show your previous commands. You can edit any previous command or the current command by pressing the BACK and FORWARD keys to position the cursor where you want to insert the characters you want.

    		NONE
    D ECHO Displays messages or turns command line echoing on or off.

    Format: ECHO [ ON | OFF ]
         ECHO message     		NONE
    D EXIT Quits (exits) the COMMAND.COM.

    Format: EXIT     		NONE
    D FOR Runs a specified command for each file in a set of files.

    Format: FOR %variable IN (set) DO command [command-parameters]

    %variable
    Specifies a replaceable parameter.
    (set)
    Specifies a set of one or more files. Wildcards may be used.
    command
    Specifies the command to carry out for each file.
    command-parameters
    Specifies parameters or switches for the specified command.

    To use the FOR command in a batch program, specify %%variable instead of %variable.     		NONE
    D GOTO Directs DOS to a labelled line in a batch program.

    Format: GOTO label

    label
    Specifies a text string used in the batch program as a label.

    You type a label on a line by itself, beginning with a colon.     		NONE
    D IF Performs conditional processing in batch programs.

    Format:
    IF [NOT] ERRORLEVEL number command
    IF [NOT] string1==string2 command
    IF [NOT] EXIST filename command
    NOT
    Specifies that DOS should carry out the command only if the condition is false.
    ERRORLEVEL number
    Specifies a true condition if the last program run returned an exit code equal to or greater than the number specified.
    command
    Specifies the command to carry out if the condition is met.
    string1==string2
    Specifies a true condition if the specified text strings match.
    EXIST filename
    Specifies a true condition if the specified filename exists.
    		 NONE
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