Doskey

DosKey is a TSR designed to assist working from the command line by making it easier to edit the command line, by remembering previous commands, and being able to record macros.

Syntax:

To load Doskey:
DOSKEY [/Switches]

/B:xxx	Sets the size of the buffer for macros and commands. The minimum value of xxx is 256 and the default is 512 (bytes). If DOSKEY is already running, it must be reloaded (with /R) when changing the buffer size.
/E:On|Off	Enables|Disables the display of commands when a macro plays. E(cho) is On by default.
/F:filename	Retrieves filename - a text file containing a list of macros in the form Macroname=Text
/H	Displays all commands stored in memory. (This list will not be redirected to a file).
/I|O	Specifies whether text is entered in Insert or Overstrike mode by default. In either case the alternative mode can be selected with the [Insert] key but the default is reset as soon as [Enter]; is used. The default mode is Overstrike.
/K:xx	Sets the size of the keyboard type-ahead buffer. The default is 15 (characters). If DosKey is already running, it must be reloaded (with /R) when changing the buffer size.
/L	Sets the maximum size of the line edit buffer. The default is 128 (characters).
/M	Displays a list of all DosKey macros currently in the buffer. This list can be redirected to a text file using standard Dos redirection (>)
/R	Installs a new instance of DosKey. If DosKey is already running, the buffer is cleared of both macros and the Command Line history. Note that installing a new instance of DosKey does not remove the previous instance. Thus each use of /R takes another 5K of conventional/upper memory.
/APPEDIT	?Appears to have something to do with buffer size. needs /r switch
/COMMAND	?Accepted as a valid switch
/PERMANENT	?Accepted as a valid switch
/SCRSIZE	?Appears to have something to do with buffer size. needs /r switch
/XHISTORY	?Accepted as a valid switch. Something to do with excluding commands from the history perhaps.

To create a Doskey macro:
DOSKEY Macroname=Text

To play a macro:
Macroname

To delete a macro:
DOSKEY Macroname=

Macroname	The name of the macro. This is a string of one or more characters possibly modified by the Ctrl and/or Alt keys.
Text	The text string to be assigned to Macroname. This will typically be one or more Dos commands along with appropriate parameters and/or switches.

DosKey Commands

Left cursor	Moves the cursor back one character. (The character is not deleted).
Right cursor	Moves the cursor forward one character. Will append the contents of the template to a command line entry (unless the command line entry has been generated from the Doskey buffer).
Ctrl + Left cursor	Moves the cursor back one word.
Ctrl + Right cursor	Moves the cursor forward one word. Will append words from the template to a command line entry (unless the command line entry has been generated from the Doskey buffer).
Home	Moves the cursor to beginning of line.
End	Moves the cursor to end of line. Does not add characters from the template.
Up cursor	Displays the previous command on the command line. Each press of the "up" key recalls an earlier command until the oldest command in the buffer is displayed.
Down cursor	Displays the next command on the command line. Each press of the "down" key recalls a later command until the current (empty) command line is displayed.
Page Up	Recalls the oldest command in the buffer
Page Down	Recalls the most recent command in the buffer
[Insert]	Toggles insert/overstrike mode. The default is reset as soon as a command is entered.
[Esc]	Clears the command line. The template is also cleared but imediately regenerated from the last command in the buffer.
F1	Copies the next character from the template to the command line.
F2 + key	Copies text from the template up to (but not including) key.
F3	Copies the template from the present character position to the command line.
F4 + key	Deletes the characters from the present character position up to (but not including) key.
F5	Copies the current command to the template and clears the command line.
F6	Places an end-of-file character (^Z) at the current position of the command line.
F7	Displays a numbered list of the command history.
Alt-F7	Deletes all commands stored in the buffer. Does not clear the template.
Chars + F8	Entering one or more characters Chars followed by F8 will display the most recent command beginning with Chars. Pressing F8 again will display the next most recent command beginning with Chars, and so on.
F9 + Command#	Displays the designated command on the command line.
Alt-F10	Deletes all macro definitions.
Ctrl-T	Used to separate two commands entered on a single command line.

Doskey Special Characters

The following special characters can be used in macros to control command operations:

$G	Redirects output - equivalent to the redirection symbol >
$G$G	Appends output to the end of a file - equivalent to the append symbol >>
$L	Redirects input - equivalent to the symbol <
$B	Sends macro output to a command - equivalent to the pipe symbol |
$T	Separates commands entered on a single command line in a macro - equivalent to Ctrl-T used from the command line.
$$	Use for the $ sign
$1 to $9	Represents any command-line parameters that can be specified when the macro is run. Comparable with the %1 to %9 characters in batch programs
$*	Represents command-line information that can be specified when macroname is written. $* is similar to the replacable parameters $n except that everything typed on the command line after macroname is substituted for the $* in the macro.

Notes:

1. See Using DosKey for further information on editing the command line and creating and using macros.
2. The /E(cho) and /I(nsert)|O(vertype) states can be modified, the /H(istory) and /M(acro) lists displayed, and /F(ile) retrieved even after DosKey is initially loaded by reentering DOSKEY along with the appropriate switch(es). This action does not affect the commands and macros stored in the buffer. However, the /B(ufsize), /L(ine size), and /K(eyboard buffer) cannot be changed without using the /R(einstall) switch which removes all stored commands and macros.
3. DosKey is a memory resident program that, once loaded, cannot be unloaded. It occupies 4 176 bytes of conventional (or upper, if available) memory, plus the size of the buffer (minimum: 256 bytes; default 512 bytes).

File Details

Superscripts denote which same size files, if any, are identical (using FC).