
















                            Take Command/16
                            for Windows 3.x


                            Take Command/32
                     for Windows 95 and Windows NT


                             Take Command
                               for OS/2



                           Reference Manual


                             Developed By
                        Rex Conn and Tom Rawson

                           Documentation By
               Hardin Brothers, Tom Rawson, and Rex Conn


                             Published By

                           JP Software Inc.
                             P.O. Box 1470
                       East Arlington, MA 02174
                                U.S.A.

                            (781) 646-3975
                          fax (781) 646-0904






                            ACKNOWLEDGMENTS


       We couldn't produce products like Take Command without the
       dedication and quality work of many people.  Our thanks to:

            JP Software Staff:  Christine Alves, Mike Bessy, Janet
            Casey, Ed Lucas, Ellen Stone.

            Online Support:  The staff at CompuServe's PC-NET,
            Software Tool and Die (Brookline, MA) and TIAC (The
            Internet Access Co., Bedford, MA); Brian Miller and Tess
            Heder of Channel 1 BBS, Cambridge, MA.

            Beta Test Support:  The sysops of CompuServe's CONSULT
            forum.

            Beta Testers:  We can't list all of our beta testers
            here!  A special thanks to all of you who helped make
            Take Command elegant, reliable, and friendly.


       The following tools are used in creating and maintaining Take
       Command:

            Compilers:       Watcom C, Microsoft C, Microsoft Macro
                             Assembler

            Editors:         Visual Slick-Edit (MicroEdge Inc.),
                             Boxer (Boxer Software)

            Debuggers:       Watcom Debugger (Watcom), Win-ICE and
                             Bounds Checker (Nu-Mega Technologies)

            Version Control: PVCS (Intersolv)

            Documentation:   Microsoft Word for Windows


       Copyright c 1998, JP Software Inc., All Rights Reserved.
       Take CommandR is a registered trademark of JP Software Inc.
       4DOSR, 4OS2, and 4NT are JP Software Inc.'s trademarks for
       its family of character-mode command processors.  JP
       Software, jpsoft.com, and all JP Software designs and logos
       are also trademarks of JP Software Inc.  Other product and
       company names are trademarks of their respective owners.



                                                               02-98
  -i-




  CONTENTS

  Introduction ..............................................1
      How to Use This Manual ................................3
      Registration and Upgrade Information ..................7
      Technical Support .....................................7

  Chapter 1 / General Concepts ..............................8
      Operating Systems and Command Processors ..............8
      Files and Directories .................................9
          Drives and Volumes ...............................10
          File Systems .....................................10
          Network File Systems .............................12
          Directories and Subdirectories ...................13
          File Attributes and Time Stamps ..................16
      OS/2 Extended Attributes .............................17
      Internal and External Commands .......................18
      Executable Files and File Searches ...................19
      The Environment ......................................22
      Character Sets, ASCII, and Key Codes .................23
      The Keyboard .........................................25

  Chapter 2 / Conventions ..................................27
      Colors and Color Names ...............................27
      Keys and Key Names ...................................28
      Popup Windows ........................................29

  Chapter 3 /  The Take Command Interface ..................31
      The Take Command Window ..............................31
          Resizing the Take Command Window .................33
          Using the Scrollback Buffer ......................34
          Highlighting and Copying Text ....................35
          Using Drag and Drop ..............................36
      Take Command Menus ...................................36
          File Menu ........................................36
          Edit Menu ........................................37
          Apps Menu ........................................38
          Options or Setup Menu ............................40
          Utilities Menu ...................................42
          Help Menu ........................................42
      Take Command Dialogs .................................43
          Save To File Dialog ..............................43
          Print Dialog .....................................43
          Printer Setup Dialog .............................44
          Run Program Dialog ...............................44
          Tasks Lists Dialog ...............................44
          Configuration Dialogs ............................45
          Tool Bar Dialog ..................................48
          Font Dialog ......................................48
          Caveman VM Setup Dialog ..........................49
          Caveman Error Dialog .............................49
          Caveman Applications Dialog ......................50
          TTY Applications Dialog ..........................50
  -ii-



          Find Files / Text Dialog .........................51
          Descriptions Dialog ..............................52
          Alias and Environment Dialogs ....................52
      Take Command Help ....................................53

  Chapter 4 / Using Take Command ...........................55
      Take Command for 4DOS, 4OS2, and 4NT Users ...........55
      At the Command Line ..................................56
          Command-Line Editing .............................56
          Command History and Recall .......................59
          Command History Window ...........................62
          Local and Global Command History .................63
          Filename Completion ..............................63
          Filename Completion Window .......................67
          Automatic Directory Changes ......................68
          Directory History Window .........................69
          Multiple Commands ................................70
          Expanding and Disabling Aliases ..................71
          Command-Line Length Limits .......................72
      Starting Applications ................................72
          Using Internet URLs ..............................73
      Page and File Prompts ................................76
      Directory Navigation .................................77
          Extended Directory Searches ......................79
          CDPATH ...........................................82
      Input and Output .....................................84
          Redirection ......................................84
          Piping ...........................................87
          Keystack .........................................89
      ANSI Support .........................................90
      File Selection .......................................90
          Extended Parent Directory Names ..................91
          Wildcards ........................................91
          Date, Time, and Size Ranges ......................94
          File Exclusion Ranges ............................99
          Multiple Filenames ..............................100
          Include Lists ...................................100
          LFN File Searches ...............................101
          Executable Extensions ...........................102
          Using Windows File Associations .................105
      Critical Errors .....................................106
      Advanced Features ...................................107
          Conditional Commands ............................107
          Command Grouping ................................108
          Escape Character ................................110
          Scrolling and History Keystrokes ................111

  Chapter 5 / Aliases and Batch Files .....................113
      Aliases .............................................113
      Batch Files .........................................116
          .BAT, .CMD, and .BTM Files ......................116
          Echoing .........................................117
          Batch File Parameters ...........................117
          Using Environment Variables .....................118
  -iii-



          Batch File Commands .............................119
          Interrupting a Batch File .......................121
          Automatic Batch Files ...........................121
          Detecting Take Command ..........................123
          Using Aliases in Batch Files ....................123
          Debugging Batch Files ...........................125
          String Processing ...............................128
          Line Continuation ...............................131
          Batch File Compression ..........................131
          REXX Support ....................................133
          EXTPROC Support .................................134
          DDE Support .....................................135
      Using 4DOS, 4OS2, and 4NT Batch Files and Aliases ...136
      4DOS, 4OS2, 4NT and Take Command Compatibility ......136
      Using the Environment ...............................137
          Configuration Variables .........................139
          Internal Variables ..............................141
          Variable Functions ..............................149
      Special Character Compatibility .....................168
      Command Parsing .....................................170
          Argument Quoting ................................172

  Chapter 6 / Configuration ...............................174
      Modifying the .INI File .............................174
      Using the .INI File .................................175
      .INI File Directives ................................176
          Types of Directives .............................177
          Initialization Directives .......................179
          Configuration Directives ........................181
          Color Directives ................................190
          Key Mapping Directives ..........................190
          Advanced Directives .............................196

  Chapter 7 / Commands ....................................197
      Command Categories ..................................198
      How to Use the Command Descriptions .................199
      ? ...................................................204
      ACTIVATE ............................................205
      ALIAS ...............................................206
      ASSOC ...............................................217
      ATTRIB ..............................................218
      BEEP ................................................221
      BREAK ...............................................223
      CALL ................................................224
      CANCEL ..............................................225
      CD / CHDIR ..........................................226
      CDD .................................................228
      CHCP ................................................230
      CLS .................................................231
      COLOR ...............................................232
      COPY ................................................233
      DATE ................................................241
      DDEEXEC .............................................242
      DEL / ERASE .........................................243
  -iv-



      DELAY ...............................................247
      DESCRIBE ............................................248
      DETACH ..............................................251
      DIR .................................................252
      DIRHISTORY ..........................................268
      DIRS ................................................270
      DO ..................................................271
      DPATH ...............................................274
      DRAWBOX .............................................275
      DRAWHLINE ...........................................277
      DRAWVLINE ...........................................278
      ECHO and ECHOERR ....................................279
      ECHOS and ECHOSERR ..................................281
      ENDLOCAL ............................................282
      ESET ................................................283
      EXCEPT ..............................................284
      EXIT ................................................286
      FFIND ...............................................287
      FOR .................................................292
      FREE ................................................301
      FTYPE ...............................................302
      GLOBAL ..............................................304
      GOSUB ...............................................306
      GOTO ................................................307
      HELP ................................................309
      HISTORY .............................................310
      IF ..................................................312
      IFF .................................................319
      INKEY ...............................................321
      INPUT ...............................................324
      KEYBD ...............................................326
      KEYSTACK ............................................327
      LIST ................................................330
      LOADBTM .............................................335
      LOG .................................................336
      MD / MKDIR ..........................................338
      MEMORY ..............................................340
      MOVE ................................................341
      MSGBOX ..............................................347
      ON ..................................................348
      OPTION ..............................................350
      PATH ................................................351
      PAUSE ...............................................354
      POPD ................................................355
      PROMPT ..............................................356
      PUSHD ...............................................360
      QUERYBOX ............................................362
      QUIT ................................................363
      RD / RMDIR ..........................................364
      REBOOT ..............................................365
      REM .................................................366
      REN / RENAME ........................................367
      RETURN ..............................................370
      SCREEN ..............................................371
  -v-



      SCRPUT ..............................................373
      SELECT ..............................................374
      SET .................................................381
      SETDOS ..............................................384
      SETLOCAL ............................................390
      SHIFT ...............................................391
      SHRALIAS ............................................393
      START ...............................................394
      SWITCH ..............................................401
      TEE .................................................404
      TEXT ................................................405
      TIME ................................................406
      TIMER ...............................................407
      TITLE ...............................................409
      TOUCH ...............................................410
      TREE ................................................412
      TRUENAME ............................................414
      TYPE ................................................415
      UNALIAS .............................................416
      UNSET ...............................................418
      VER .................................................420
      VERIFY ..............................................421
      VOL .................................................422
      VSCRPUT .............................................423
      WINDOW ..............................................424
      Y ...................................................425

  Appendix A / Error Messages .............................426

  Index ...................................................435
  -1-




  INTRODUCTION


       Welcome to our Reference Manual.  We have designed this
       manual to accompany three of our products:  Take Command/16
       (for Windows 3.x and Windows for Workgroups), Take Command/32
       (for Windows 95 and Windows NT), and Take Command for
       OS/2products: 4DOS, 4OS2, and 4NT.

       This ASCII text version has been formatted differently than
       our printed manuals in order to be more easily used with
       braille or screen-reading software and hardware.

       You're probably already familiar with graphical applications
       running under Windows or OS/2, and with the traditional
       command line, but you may not be used to seeing them combined
       in one product.  Most Windows and OS/2 applications offer
       limited command-line capability at best, and most command-
       line utilities aren't designed for a graphical environment.

       We designed Take Command to give you the best of both worlds.
       You'll probably find it most useful when you need to perform
       tasks like managing your hard disk, scripting a series of
       steps you perform regularly, or starting applications.  There
       are graphical utilities that perform some of these tasks, but
       often you will find it more convenient or productive to
       perform them from the command line.

       Take Command also offers a host of features that couldn't
       exist at all in a standard command-line utility.  For
       example, you can pop up simple dialogs from a batch file,
       pass keystrokes to Windows or OS/2 applications, use a dialog
       to find files or text anywhere on your system, and configure
       Take Command with dialogs instead of editing an .INI file.

       If you want full command-line control of Windows 3.x or
       Windows for Workgroups you can also use Take Command/16 as
       your Windows shell, replacing Program Manager (see your
       Introduction and Installation Guide or the online help for
       details).  When you use Take Command this way, you can turn
       Windows into a completely command-based environment.  This
       approach isn't for everyone, but if it's the way you like to
       work you'll find that Take Command is up to the task.

       We encourage you to install Take Command on your desktop and
       try it out.  Get used to using it when you need to copy a
       file or start an application.  When you find you're regularly
       using Take Command for a task, set up a Toolbar button for
       it.  Try writing some aliases or batch files, or using some
       of those you already have, especially if you are a 4DOS or
       4OS2 user (see page 136).  As you get used to Take Command
       you'll find that it offers a simple, productive way to
       perform many tasks, and you'll be able to decide which tasks
  -2-



       are best-suited to Take Command and how it fits with the way
       you work in Windows or OS/2.

       If you are familiar with the traditional command prompt, or
       with 4DOS, 4OS2, or 4NT, you won't have to change your
       computing habits or unlearn anything to use Take Command.  If
       you know how to use commands to display a directory, copy a
       file, or start an application program, you already know how
       to use Take Command.  And if you are a 4DOS, 4OS2, or 4NT
       user, you already know how to use most of the advanced
       features that we have built into Take Command.

       Once you have Take Command installed, you can learn its new
       features at your own pace.  Relax, enjoy Take Command's
       power, and browse through the manuals occasionally.  Press
       the F1 key whenever you need help.  Take Command will soon
       become an essential part of your computer, and you'll wonder
       how you ever got along without it.

       We are constantly working to improve Take Command.  If you
       have suggestions for features or commands that we should
       include in the next version, or any other way we could
       improve our product, please let us know.  Many of the
       features in this version were suggested by our users.  We
       can't promise to include every suggestion, but we really do
       appreciate and pay attention to your comments.
  -3-





  How to Use This Manual

       This manual covers three products:  Take Command/16 for
       Windows, Take Command/32 for Windows 95 and Windows NT, and
       Take Command for OS/2.  We have combined reference
       information for all Take Command products in one manual
       because they offer very similar features and commands, so
       individual manuals would be almost identical.  In addition,
       printing a single manual assists those customers who use more
       than one product, reduces our costs and lets us bring you the
       most powerful command interpreters available for the lowest
       possible price.

       Most of this manual describes commands and features which are
       available in all three products.  When we need to discuss the
       features or behavior of a single product, we mention it
       specifically in the text.  When an entire paragraph or
       section applies to a specific product, we use marginal text
       to identify that product:

TC16   marks sections that apply only to the 16-bit Take Command/16
       for Windows 3.x and Windows for Workgroups.  When we need to
       refer to this product specifically in the manual, we call it
       Take Command/16.

TC32   marks sections that apply only to Take Command/32 for Windows
       95 and Windows NT.  When we need to refer to this product
       specifically in the manual, we call it Take Command/32.

TCOS2  marks sections that apply only to Take Command for OS/2.
       When we need to refer to this product specifically in the
       manual, we call it Take Command for OS/2.

       When we use the term Windows in this manual, it refers to
       Windows 3.x, Windows for Workgroups, Windows 95, and Windows
       NT, unless another meaning is obvious from the context.  When
       we need to refer to a feature or concept in one or two of
       those operating systems, we name them explicitly.

       We have designed this manual to serve as an introduction to
       Take Command for novice users and as a reference manual for
       advanced users.

       You will likely find some parts of the manual too simple or
       too technical for your tastes.  Unless you are convinced that
       one of those sections holds just the information you need for
       a specific task, feel free to skip to the next part of the
       manual that is more to your liking.  You can use almost every
       feature of Take Command without having to worry about other
       features or commands.
  -4-



       Many of the examples in this manual show how to enter a
       command at the prompt.  The examples use the default Take
       Command/32 and Take Command for OS/2 prompt, which appears as
       [c:\].  If you use a default prompt under Take Command/16 you
       will see the traditional DOS prompt, c:\>, instead of the
       prompt shown in the examples.  The prompt you see will also
       vary if you create a custom prompt with the PROMPT command.

    !  As you read the manual, you will occasionally see an
       exclamation point [!] next to a paragraph.  The exclamation
       point means that that paragraph contains a caution or warning
       you should observe when using the feature it discusses.

    ## You will also see the symbol ## next to certain paragraphs.
       This indicates the first of one or more paragraphs containing
       an in-depth discussion or a more advanced topic which you can
       skip if you wish to stick with the basics.  Come back to this
       topic later for more details, or if you're having trouble
       with the particular issue it discusses.  If you see the ##
       next to a section heading, it means the entire section
       contains such information.

       You may find the information in such marked sections useful
       even if you're relatively new to computers or to our
       products.  However, you can also skip the marked section and
       still understand and use the basic features described in the
       topic you're reading.

       This manual is divided into seven chapters, an appendix, and
       an index.  Here's a brief overview of what you'll find in
       each:


       Chapter 1 / General Concepts

            This chapter is an introduction to several terms and
            concepts that we use throughout the manual.  If you're a
            novice, you might want to browse through the entire
            chapter.  If you're a power user and all of the topics
            in this chapter seem simple, then go on to the next
            chapter.  If you think you need to brush up a bit on the
            basics of a couple of terms or ideas, you'll probably
            find them here.


       Chapter 2 / Conventions

            This chapter contains information about three
            conventions that are used throughout Take Command:
            colors and color names,  keys and key names, and Take
            Command's popup windows.  You'll find many references in
            the manual to the information in this chapter.  You may
            choose to read through this chapter to see what is
  -5-



            available, or refer to the topics here when you come to
            a cross reference later in the manual.


       Chapter 3 / The Take Command Interface

            This chapter covers the Take Command screen and the
            associated menus, dialogs, and other features related to
            working with Take Command as a Windows or OS/2
            Presentation Manager program.  It will help you
            understand how Take Command functions simultaneously as
            both a command-line product, and a GUI utility; for that
            reason it's important reading for those transitioning
            from character-mode command processors like 4DOS or
            COMMAND.COM.  Some parts cover more advanced dialogs and
            other features that you won't need as you get started,
            but everyone should look thorough the basic screen
            elements and behaviors documented in the earlier parts
            of the chapter.


       Chapter 4 / Using Take Command

            This chapter is for everyone.  It contains a description
            of Take Command's command line features, plus lots of
            examples to help you learn to use each one.  Even if you
            are a novice user and want to ignore some of these
            features until later, skim through this chapter to get
            an idea of what is available and where to find the
            information that you will eventually want.  Take Command
            includes both features which are not related to specific
            commands, and a complete set of over 80 internal
            commands.  This chapter has reference information on
            most of the command line features.  Reference
            information on commands is in Chapter 7.


       Chapter 5 / Aliases and Batch Files

            This chapter introduces two of the most powerful
            features in Take Command:  Aliases and Batch Files.  You
            can use both to automate much of your computing work.
            Even if you are a novice user, you should skim through
            this chapter to see what is available.  This chapter
            also contains information about using the Take Command
            tool bar, environment variables, and the internal
            variables and variable functions that make aliases and
            batch files extremely powerful and flexible.


       Chapter 6 / Configuration

            This chapter is for anyone who wants to personalize Take
            Command, and for advanced users who want to be sure that
  -6-



            Take Command is running at top efficiency on their
            systems.  It includes detailed information on setting up
            the program and on changing its configuration.


       Chapter 7 / Command Reference Guide

            Take Command offers over 90 internal commands.  This
            chapter explains the purpose of each command and tells
            you how to use it.  It has examples that will help you
            learn each command, and the technical details you will
            need to get the command to behave exactly as you wish.


       Appendix

            Appendix A lists all error messages that can be
            generated by Take Command.  Look here if you need an
            explanation of an error message and how to fix the
            condition that caused it.


       Index

            If you can't find the information you need, this should
            help you find it.


       Additional Information

            Files distributed with Take Command cover important
            additional information beyond what's included in this
            manual.

            Take Command includes complete online help for all
            commands and other features.  The online help provides
            much of the same information that is available in this
            manual and the Introduction and Installation Guide, but
            in an electronic form which you can access quickly.  The
            online help also includes details about changes in the
            latest version of our products and additional technical
            and reference information.  See your Introduction and
            Installation Guide for more information about the online
            help.

            When you receive your copy of Take Command, be sure to
            look through README.TXT, which contains general notes,
            highlights of the latest release, and brief installation
            instructions for those upgrading from a downloaded copy.
            Important additional information may be included in
            other files distributed with your product; if so,
            README.TXT will refer you to those files as well.
  -7-



       Introduction and Installation Guide

            In addition to this manual, we include an Introduction
            and Installation Guide with each of our products.
            Besides installation information, this guide contains
            information about features that are unique to each
            product.  For example, the Guide contains detailed
            information about start-up options for all versions of
            Take Command.  The Introduction and Installation Guide
            is as important to your use of Take Command as this
            manual.  Even if you are an experienced user, please
            browse through the Guide to see what information it
            contains.


  Registration and Upgrade Information

       If you purchased Take Command from a software dealer, your
       copy came with a registration card (packed in the diskette
       envelope, or with the literature accompanying your product).
       Please fill out this card and return it promptly to JP
       Software.  It ensures that we have a record of your
       registration so that we can give you ongoing technical
       support and notices of upgrades.  If you purchased Take
       Command directly from JP Software, you are already registered
       and no registration card is necessary.

       Take Command is upgraded regularly through maintenance
       releases, designed to fix minor problems or improve
       compatibility, and major upgrades which contain enhancements
       and additional features.  For complete details about
       obtaining upgrades and new releases, see your Introduction
       and Installation Guide.


  Technical Support

       Technical support is available via public electronic support
       conferences, private electronic mail, telephone, fax, and
       mail.  For complete details see the section on Technical
       Support in your Introduction and Installation Guide or the
       Troubleshooting, Service and Support topics in the online
       help.
