Windows Command Line Basics

• list files/folders:
  • dir
  • example: typing dir while in the Desktop folder will show you all folder and files in Desktop
• Where am I?:
  • Windows shows you where you are in the file path automatically - Or you can do cd %HOMEDRIVE%
• use / or \ to separate folders
• change directories
  • cd filepath
  • example: cd Desktop/IA to get to “IA” folder on Desktop
• move up one directory
  • cd ..
  • example: If I’m in the IA folder in Desktop and want to go back up to Desktop, I used cd .. - Shortcut for homepath (C:\Users\username): %HOMEPATH% - example: cd %HOMEPATH% takes you back to C:\Users\Alex
    - example: In Desktop and want to get to William and Mary folder inside Documents - cd %HOMEPATH%\Documents\William and Mary\
• create directories
  • md foldername
  • example: while in Desktop md Google_Books creates a folder called “Google_Books” in Desktop
• create text file - copy con filename.txt - Type text directly in command prompt, hit Ctrl+Z and then Enter to save
  • echo textcontent > filename.txt - echo Hello World! > file1.txt
• delete files
  • del filename
  • example: del file1.txt
• copy files (to a new name, to a new directory)
  • copy filepath-from filepath-to
  • example: while in Desktop copy file1.txt IA\file1.txt
    • Copies file1.txt to IA folder in Desktop. There’s one copy in Desktop and one in IA
  • example: while in Desktop copy file1.txt IA\file2.txt
    • Copies file1.txt to IA folder in Desktop and renames as file2.txt. There’s one copy in Desktop and one in IA
• move files
  • move filepath-from folder-to\
  • example: while in Desktop move file1.txt IA\
    • Moves file1.txt from Desktop to IA folder
• %PATH%: the list of directories/folders where the OS looks for commands when you type a command
  • Hit Start button and search for environmental variables so that “Edit the system environmental variables” comes up
  • Click “environmental variables”
  • In the system under “System variables”, select “Path” so it is highlighted, then click “Edit”. A new window will pop up
  • Click “New” and type the filepath to where the folder for the executable command is on your computer (usually you’ve installed it in one of the program files folder)
• Commands must know the file path of images/documents they are working on. Providing complete path to files or being in the same directory as the files. Do that as part of copy or delete.
  • Example: To copy a file in Desktop you can…
    • navigate so that you are “in” the Desktop folder using cd. Then you only need to type the file name in the first part of copy: copy file1.txt C:\Users\Alex\Documents\file1.txt
    • Be in any folder and give the whole path to the Desktop: copy C:\Users\Alex\Desktop\file1.txt C:\Users\Alex\Documents\file1.txt
• open a file in the GUI (graphic user interface) from the command line:
  • Just type filename with extension (e.g., file1.txt) and hit enter
• Navigating inside the command prompt window
  • Use up arrow to display previous commands
  • Use left and right arrows to move cursor inside your command