User’s Guide
mediately when you enter them. COPY and DIR
are examples
of
internal MS-DOS commands.
External MS-DOS commands are stored on the
hard drive or diskettes as program files. When you
enter an external command, MS-DOS searches for
the command that you specify and, if the com-
mand is found, executes it. Because all MS-DOS
commands are stored on the
1500-
HD’s hard
drive, you do not have
to
insert a diskette to ac-
cess these external commands.
Typing Commands
You can enter a command whenever the screen
displays the system prompt.
A
command consists of one word, the command
name.
A
command line
consists of one or more
command names and their associated parameters
and switches.
Parameters and switches are special information
you include with a command. They provide infor-
mation to the command, or they determine how
the command operates.
A
command line can have a maximum of
127
char-
acters, including any combination of uppercase or
lowercase letters.
To
execute a command line,
press
ENTER.
For
example,
to
clear the screen,
type:
CIS
ENTER
Editing Commands
MS-DOS tries to carry out the commands you
type.
If
you make a typing mistake that results in
an invalid command, MS-DOS tells you
so
with an
error message.
If
you make a typing mistake, but
the resulting command is valid, MS-DOS carries
out the command as you entered it.
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