Filter
Top Products
CM9740-CC1 | 37
The “ \ ” symbol, when used alone represents the root directory; otherwise it indicates sepa-
ration of various levels of the directory tree, collectively known as the directory path.
The result of the above entry takes you directly to the root directory and the following
screen prompt:
C:\>
To backtrack one directory at a time, enter the following at the system prompt:
C:\9740\BKUPTST> CD.. [ENTER]
The result of that key entry is as follows:
C:\9740>
If you enter the same command again (CD..) at the C:\9740> prompt and press the ENTER
key, you would finally end up again at the root directory as was previously done.
To proceed directly from the directory you are in to another directory, no matter where in the
directory tree you are, enter the total directory path of the location you wish to go to at the
system prompt. For example, if you are in the root directory and wish to proceed to the
C:\9740\BKUPTST directory, then use the following syntax:
C:\> CD [directory path] [ENTER]
Enter the desired directory as follows:
C:\> CD C:9740\BKUPTST [ENTER]
The result would be a change to
C:\9740\BKUPTST>
➤ Manipulating Files in the DOS Environment
The safest way to manipulate files is to do so from within the directory in which those files
are located. There are two reasons for this:
(1) If you enter a DIR command at the directory prompt, the names of the file(s)
you wish to manipulate are on the screen. This reduces the risk of making
simple mistakes, such as entering an incorrect file name as part of an erase
command, for example.
(2) When using commands directed at file manipulation, the format of the com-
mand requires that the command name be listed first, followed by the file
name to be acted upon. If you issue a command for a file that is in another
directory, then you must enter the complete directory path where that file is
found in addition to the name of the file at which the command is directed.
The command formats (COPY, MOVE, RENAME, DELETE, and so on) for the most com-
monly used commands are covered through associated examples in Table D on the next page.
Using the Wild Card Character
The most commonly used wild card character recognized by DOS is the asterisk [ * ].
The asterisk can be used effectively as a placeholder to collectively coral large groups of
files which are going to be acted upon by the same DOS command. The asterisk helps you
specify character positions that are of the “don’t care” type in file names. When DOS en-
counters the asterisk, DOS ignores the characters in the position containing the wildcard as
well as all the characters that follow it.