Windows CLI
1/8
1/14
This material was developed with funding from the
National Science Foundation under Grant # DUE 1601612
Back
Next
Restart
Command Prompt
Threeway Hand Shake
User Interface
2/14
An operating system also provides two types of user interfaces:Graphical User Interface (GUI) displays objects that a user can perform actions with by providing windows, menus and icons to execute commandsCommand-line Interface (CLI) allows users to enter commands in the form of lines of text to execute commandsWe will be exploring the command-line interface for the Windows operating system.
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.18362.356]
(c) 2019 Microsoft Corporation. All right reserved.
C:\Users\Student1>
The Command Prompt Window
3/14
cmd
Open the Command Line Interface window by entering CMD in the Search Window or by clicking Start > Windows System > Command Prompt from the Start Menu.
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.18362.356]
(c) 2019 Microsoft Corporation. All right reserved.
Program
Files (x86)
C:\
Windows
Users
PerfLogs
C:\Users\Student1>
Program
Files
Default Prompt
4/14
Student1
Directory StructureCMD.EXE is the command interpreter for Windows. This application creates the Command Prompt window, provides users with built-in configuration commands, and accepts your configuration command input.
When the command prompt window opens, by default you are in your home folder (Windows generates a home folder for each user created ). Everything to the left of the greater than sign (>) is called the default prompt and indicates your working location in the directory structure.
Windows assigned drive letter C to the internal hard drive during operating system installation. When you plug in the external hard drive, Windows assigns drive letter D, and when you plug in the next device, the USB drive, Windows assigns drive letter E.
If a drive that you are connecting is unformatted, the drive letter is assigned when you format it.
D:
C:
E:
6/14
Drag the external hard drive and the USB to the system.
Drive Letter Assignment
Notice that a drive letter is always followed by a colon (:). The Users directory is one of the system directories created during Windows installation. The student1 directory is a sub-directory of the Users directory.
Remember, the first backslash after the drive letter represents the root (the top-level directory). A backslash (\) also separates the directories in the structure hierarchy.
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.18362.356]
(c) 2019 Microsoft Corporation. All right reserved.
7/14
Using the CLI
Subdirectory
5/14
File
An alphabetic character pointing to a formatted device such as a hard drive or USB drive used to store data.
The Directory Structure
Click each item below.
The directory one level above the current directory.
Root Directory
A directory located inside a directory.
Filename
Created when the device is formatted and is the top-most directory in the directory structure. A backslash represents the root directory in the Windows operating system.
File Extension
Directory
A named area on a drive created for organizing a collection of files (also known as a folder)
A document or other type of information stored on a computer.
A file system provides the directory structure. It is important to understand WHERE your files are located on your storage device. Let’s break down the components of the pathname of a file stored in your home folder.
\
Drive
Character or group of characters after the period that makes up the file name. The O/S uses the extension to determine which program on the computer the file is associated with.
The identifying name given to a computer file including the file name, a period (or dot), and a file extension. Invalid filename characters include
< > : “ / \ | ? *
Parent Directory
Element
with Audio
HTML
To change the default prompt to point to a different drive, enter the drive letter followed by a colon and press Enter (commands entered in the Windows CLI are NOT case-sensitive).
In the Command Prompt window, type the proper command to point the default prompt to the USB drive and click the Enter button. Next, point the default prompt to the external drive. Finally, point the default prompt back to the internal hard drive.
8/14
Changing Drives
E:\>
D:\>
C:\Users\Student1>
Text without brackets or braces
9/14
Separator for mutually exclusive items—you must choose one
Vertical bar (|)
Optional items to customize command
Command Syntax
[Text inside square brackets]
When entering a command, you must follow the proper syntax. Syntax is the grammar (or set of rules) that all commands follow. A space should follow the CLI command. Typos or the improper use of a space can cause a command to fail.
Items you must type
Items that can be repeated and used multiple times
Ellipsis (…)
Set of required items--you must choose one
{Text inside braces}
Placeholder for which you must supply a value
10/14
The circled folder indicates your location in the directory structure. Let’s say that you need the root to be your working directory. Use the command cd to change the current working directory. Type cd \ in the command prompt window and click Enter. The default prompt now points to the root directory.
Change Directory Command
C:\>
Susan
System32
C:\Users\Student1>
C:\>
11/14
md Syntax
C:\>
current
budgets
Click to reveal the command syntax
Now create a subdirectory current under budgets.
Creating a Directory
You need to create a new directory on your external hard drive (D:). Use the command md (make directory) to create the budgets directory as a subdirectory of root based on the working command prompt given. Click Enter to check your answer.
rd Syntax
C:\>
12/14
Susan has left the organization. Use the command rd (remove directory) to remove her folder based on the working command prompt given. Click Enter to check your answer.
Removing a Directory
C:\
Homework
C:\
The relative path starts from the given working directory. The relative path points to the location of a directory or file using the current directory as a reference.
Use the command cd and a relative path to make the Student1 folder the current working directory.
cd users\susan
Create Homework as a subdirectory of Student1 using an absolute path.
Relative Path
An absolute path starts with a drive letter, the root, and all directories of the file system up to the target file or directory.
Absolute Path
Absolute and Relative Pathnames
cd c:\users\susan
13/14
Create the Current Year subdirectory using an absolute path.
14/14
Windows does allow the use of a space (or NUL character) in a file or directory name. Since this can present a problem with command line syntax, use quotation marks (“) around the file or directory name.
Create the Budgets directory using a relative path.
Handling Spaces
current year
Create the Current subdirectory using an absolute path.