Catch All

[Fred J]

Back in the day, when I programmed on RSX-11 and it variants
(RSX-11MPlus), the command shell would do the following; When you
entered a command at the prompt, the current directory was searched
for *.cmd (I believe that was the extension) and then *.executables (I
forgot the extension!). Next an internal command was searched
(remember PIP). Then an ordered path was followed. I can't remember
if there was a path statement or it just defaulted to the system
directory.

However, if neither a command file or executable was found, the OS
would look for a file called 'catchall.cmd'. If that file didn't
exists you got back a 'file not found'. I don't know if this magic
file name was released in the Digital documentation or it came out in
one of those wonderful DECUS 'Wizard Sessions'.

So with that as a preface, is there a 'special file name' that a
command line from the RUN command or CMD shell will try as a last
resort if the target is not found in the directories of the
environmental variable PATH?

As far as I know when you run an unknown command "blahblah" from the
RUN statement XP returns a "blahblah" window stating "Windows cannot
find 'blahblah'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try
again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then Click
Search. OK!

From a CMD shell XP returns 'blahblah' is not recognized as an

internal or external command,operable program or batch file.

Fred Jacobowitz

 

[Guest]

Windows command shell checks the current folder, then the path for ?.COM,
then ?.EXE, then ?.BAT, then throws the error.

you could create a ?.BAT in the path.

 

[db]

blahblah.blah
might wurk

Back in the day, when I programmed on RSX-11 and it variants
(RSX-11MPlus), the command shell would do the following; When you
entered a command at the prompt, the current directory was searched
for *.cmd (I believe that was the extension) and then *.executables (I
forgot the extension!). Next an internal command was searched
(remember PIP). Then an ordered path was followed. I can't remember
if there was a path statement or it just defaulted to the system
directory.

However, if neither a command file or executable was found, the OS
would look for a file called 'catchall.cmd'. If that file didn't
exists you got back a 'file not found'. I don't know if this magic
file name was released in the Digital documentation or it came out in
one of those wonderful DECUS 'Wizard Sessions'.

So with that as a preface, is there a 'special file name' that a
command line from the RUN command or CMD shell will try as a last
resort if the target is not found in the directories of the
environmental variable PATH?

As far as I know when you run an unknown command "blahblah" from the
RUN statement XP returns a "blahblah" window stating "Windows cannot
find 'blahblah'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try
again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then Click
Search. OK!

From a CMD shell XP returns 'blahblah' is not recognized as an

internal or external command,operable program or batch file.

Fred Jacobowitz

 

[Fred J]

What I meant to ask is .. If XP in fact did look for a 'special file
name', lets say catchall.cmd, then I would write a batch file called
catchall.cmd that takes the submitted command as an argument and
process each command.

Fred Jacobowitz

 

[db]

i was only taking the
opportunity to be funny.

I presume that "Indexing"
is not the methodology you
are researching.

So here is a link that can further
take you into that technical realm
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/csc/scripts/files/files/index.mspx

- db
What I meant to ask is .. If XP in fact did look for a 'special file
name', lets say catchall.cmd, then I would write a batch file called
catchall.cmd that takes the submitted command as an argument and
process each command.

Fred Jacobowitz