Commodore PC - Page 177

Batch Processing 105 |
n
r\
How to Create an Autoexec.bat File
There are many things you can do with an autoexec, bat file to
help you use ms-dos more efficiently. For instance, you will prob
ably want to set the time and date, your path, and any other
options that you plan to use on a regular basis.
If, for example, you want to automatically load gw-basic and run a
program called menu each time you start ms-dos, you could
create an autoexec bat file as follows:
D] Type the following command and then press return:
copy con autoexec.bat
This command tells ms-dos to copy what you type from the
keyboard into the autoexec bat file. Note that you must put
the autoexec bat file in the root directory of your ms-dos disk.
H] Now type the following lines:
date
t ime
path = c:\;c:\bin ;a:\
prompt C$p]
els
gwbasic menu
0 After the last line, press control-z and press return to copy
these lines into the autoexec bat file.
S The menu program will now run automatically whenever you
start ms-dos.
Creating an
autoexec.bat file
^] Once your autoexecbat file is set up as above, it will perform the
following actions when you start ms-dos: it will ask you to enter
the date and time; it will set your command search path; and it
^-^ will set your prompt to display the default drive and directory.
Finally, the autoexecbat file will clear the screen and tell ms-dos
to load gw-basic and run the menu program. To run your own
f"*^ gw-basic program, type its name in place of menu in the exam
ple. In addition to gw-basic programs, you can also put any ms-dos
command or series of commands in the autoexecbat file.