Special Features in DOS

Help

It can be used in two ways:

1) HELP {ENTER}

2) HELP {command help needed on} {ENTER}

The first way will invoke the full list of MS-DOS commands that we can scroll through using the cursor keys and the TAB key, or point and click the command we are interested in for the opening screen and further details.

The second method will take you straight to the commands opening screen of information, usually there are links to an Example page and a Notes page. The opening screen will give you the syntax for the command, for example the DIR command:

Syntax

DIR [drive:][path][filename] [/P] [/W][/A[[: ]attributes]][/O[[:]sortorder]] [/S] [/B] [/L] [/C]

There then follows detailed explanations of what each parameter and switch does. A shortcut to find the parameters and switches available for most MS-DOS commands and many program names, is to add the switch /? after the command name. Even WIN the command to start MS Windows will give a list of possible switches that you could use.