DOS File names

[Phil James]

If I know the name of a folder in Windows XP, how do I find out what the
name of that folder is in DOS?

This becomes an issue if I want to print the directory of a folder in DOS.
If I can't find the folder, I can't print the directory. For many folders,
the formula "first six characters plus ~1" works, but not for all!

Phil

 

[3c273]

Type "dir /x" at a command prompt. Type "dir/?" for more options.
Louis

 

[Bob I]

DOS? Where are you running DOS from? If you actually mean the command
prompt, then use CMD.exe NOT COMMAND.COM and there is no problem.

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Bob I" <[email protected]>

| DOS? Where are you running DOS from? If you actually mean the command
| prompt, then use CMD.exe NOT COMMAND.COM and there is no problem.


He really means the 8.3 name, not DOS name, of a file and/or folder.

 

[Phil James]

Right. That's what I really mean.

Will try CMD.exe.

Thanks...

Phil

 

[Phil James]

CMD.exe worked well for at least one file! That was "C:\Documents and
Settings\Philip\Desktop\Outlook Express."

But it didn't work for another. Maybe somebody can tell me why:

Among the directories listed in "C:\Documents and Settings\Philip" is "Start
Menu."

I couldn't get the program to recognize that path.

Also, in Windows Explorer there are several other fiolders shown under
"Philip," one of which is "Local Settings." Why doesn't that show up with
"CMD.exe"?

Phil

 

[John John]

do dir /a

do dir /a:d

do dir /a:h

do dir /?

Look in your Windows Help Files for dir

John

 

[Bob I]

1. "Start Menu" Double check spelling and quotes.
2. "Local Settings" Hidden folders are hidden, but that doesn't prevent
you from doing

CD "\Documents and Settings\Philip\Local Settings"

 

[Tim Slattery]

If I know the name of a folder in Windows XP, how do I find out what the
name of that folder is in DOS?

This becomes an issue if I want to print the directory of a folder in DOS.
If I can't find the folder, I can't print the directory. For many folders,
the formula "first six characters plus ~1" works, but not for all!

I'm not at all sure why you need the short name. There's no DOS in
WinXP, and the command console has no problem with file names longer
then if bytes. If the filename has a space or other non-standard
character embedded, just surround it with quotes:

cd "\Shared Program Data"