MS-DOS Internal Commands and DOSKEY Macros in Program Manager

 Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
Article ID: Q87278
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 3.x, 4.x, 5.x, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21

SUMMARY

To invoke an MS-DOS internal command or DOSKEY macro from within Windows Program Manager, use the following syntax: 

   command.com /c <internal commandname>
   command.com /c <macroname>
These commands run the internal command or macro and then immediately return to Windows Program Manager. If the internal command or macro requires a parameter, you should include that as well.

MORE INFORMATION

The Windows Program Manager File Run command and program items allow you to start program files (.COM, .EXE, .BAT, .PIF). Program Manager does not recognize MS-DOS internal commands and DOSKEY macros. The DOSKEY utility was added to MS-DOS in MS-DOS version 5.0.

The "command.com /c" syntax causes Program Manager to run a copy of the MS-DOS program that processes internal commands, COMMAND.COM. If DOSKEY was loaded before starting Windows, DOSKEY will also be active and able to process DOSKEY macros loaded before starting Windows.

Example 1

To perform the command "DIR /P" from Program Manager:

  1. From the File menu, choose Run.

  2. Type "command /c dir /p" (without quotation marks) in the Command Line box.

  3. Choose the OK button.

Example 2

To create a program item for a DOSKEY macro called "MEM":

  1. From the File menu, choose New.

  2. Select the Program Item option button.

  3. Choose the OK button.

  4. In the Command Line box, type "command.com /c mem" (without quotation marks).

  5. Choose the OK button.

Note: If you enter "command" in the Command Line box of the Program Item Properties dialog, Program Manager will change this to "command.exe."

For more information on COMMAND, see the "COMMAND" entry in the reference section of the "Microsoft MS-DOS User's Guide and Reference." For version 5.0, this is located on pages 384-386.

For more information on DOSKEY, see pages 169-181 and 448-454 of the version 5.0 "Microsoft MS-DOS User's Guide and Reference."

To determine if an MS-DOS command is external or internal, check that command's entry in the reference section of the "Microsoft MS-DOS User's Guide and Reference", or query on: 

   internal and external and msdos and commands

KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubcategory: win30 win31 msdos
Additional reference words: 3.00 3.00a 3.10 3.20 3.21 3.30 4.00 4.01 4.01a
5.00 5.00a 6.00 6.20 6.21

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Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
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