Commodore PC - Page 19

Learning About ms-dos 5
If you will be working primarily with files on drive B, it is easier
to change the default drive to B, so that you won't have to type
>-*k the letter b, followed by a colon, with every command and
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filename.
Command
Just as you will run programs to create and update files containing
your data, you will also need to run some special programs, called
ms-dos commands, that let you manipulate entire files.
When you give ms-dos certain commands, you are asking the com
puter to perform tasks. For example, when you use the diskcopy
command to copy your ms-dos master disk, you are running a pro
gram named diskcopy on the ms-dos disk.
Other ms-dos commands:
■ Compare, copy, display, delete, and rename files
■ Copy, format, and label disks
■ Run your programs, as well as those supplied with ms-dos such
as edlin
■ List directories
■ Enter the date and time
■ Set printer and screen options
Chapter 4, "Using Commands," contains more information on
ms-dos commands. In addition, the MS-DOS User's Reference con
tains detailed descriptions for each MS-DOS command.
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Keys You Use with MS-DOS
Now that you've learned about ms-dos commands, files, drives,
etc., next you'll learn about the keys you will be using.
In addition to the keys you'd find on a typewriter, your computer
keyboard has some keys that have special meanings to MS-DOS.
First, note that there are two important differences between a
typewriter keyboard and a computer keyboard:
The ms-dos keyboard
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L
A computer understands the difference
between a one and a lowercase L. Be sure
you don't type a lowercase L when you
mean a one.