New Perspectives Classic Labs

The DOS command-line user interface provides a typical example of the advantages and disadvantages of command-line user interfaces. DOS was included with the original IBM PC computers to provide users with a way to accomplish system tasks such as listing, moving, and deleting files on disk. Although today's typical computer user prefers to use a graphical user interface such as Windows, DOS commands still function on most IBM-compatible computers.  

1.  Click the Steps button to learn how to use the DOS command-line interface. As you work through the Steps, answer all of the Quick Check questions that appear. When you complete the Steps, you will see a Summary Report that summarizes your performance on the Quick Checks. Follow the directions on the screen to print the Summary Report. Remember to use the EXIT command to close the DOS window when you're ready to quit.  

2.  In Explore, write out your answers to a through d.  

a. Explain the different results you get when you use the commands DIR, DIR /p, and DIR /w.  

 b. What happens if you make a typing error and enter the command DIT instead of DIR? What procedure must you follow to correct your error?

 c. Enter the command, DIR /? and explain what happens. Enter the command VER /? and explain what happens. What generalization can you make about the /? command parameter?

 d. Enter the command VER /w. Why do you think /w does not work with the VER command word, but it works with DIR?

Write a one-page paper summarizing what you know about command-line user interfaces and answering the following questions:

 a. Which DOS commands do you now know how to use?

 b. How do you know which commands to use to accomplish a task?

 c. How do you know what parameters work with each command?

 d. What kinds of mistakes can you make that will produce an error message?

 e. Can you enter valid commands that don't produce the results you want?