1. Command Prompt Using Copy, Type, and Wildcards
©Richard Goldman
January 18, 2000

2. Copy Command
Makes a copy of a file(s) and places it (them) where you want.
Logic:
COPY Source Destination
Syntax:
Copy [drive:][path]filename [drive][path]filename
Example:
C:>Copy A:\Students\John.new D:\Grads\Smith.C00

3. File-naming Rules .COM, .EXE, .SYS, (.BAT)
File names in a directory must be unique.
File length
Dos 6.22 and earlier – 8.3
Win 95 and later – 255 characters
(LFN that include spaces must be enclosed in quotes)
File extensions optional
Illegal characters
“ / \ : | > < * ?
Common program file extensions
.COM, .EXE, .SYS, (.BAT)

4. Using Long File Names Don’t use unless necessary
They fill up the directory table very fast
Directory Listings (/X)
8.3 versions displayed on left
LFN versions displayed on right
Truncated LFN’s are displayed with shortened name appended with a tilde (~) and a number. Random numbers are used in the name after the 4th.
RICHAR~1.ABC RICHARD GOLDMAN MATH.ABC
RICHAR~2.ABC RICHARD GOLDMAN SCIENCE.ABC
RICHAR~3.ABC RICHARD GOLDMAN HEALTH.ABC
RICHAR~4.ABC RICHARD GOLDMAN ENGLISH.ABC
RI3491~1.ABC RICHARD GOLDMAN CHEMISTRY.ABC
RI3492~1.ABC RICHARD GOLDMAN BIOLOGY.ABC
Use quotes to enclose LFN’s with imbedded spaces.
C:\>COPY “Jack and Jill.fun” A:JaJ.fun

5. Using Wildcards with Copy
C:\>COPY *.TMP A:*.NEW
Copies all files with a .TMP extension from the root drive of C: to the root drive of A:
In the process it changes the extension of the copied files to .NEW.

6. The Type Command Type displays the contents of a file on the screen.
Type is an Internal command.
Syntax:
TYPE [drive:][path]filename
Example:
C:>TYPE A:\Students\John.new

7. . (Single Dot) = Current directory .. (Double Dot) = Parent directory
Subdirectory Markers
. (Single Dot) = Current directory
.. (Double Dot) = Parent directory
As a shortcut, you may substitute .. In the command line for the name or the parent directory.

8. Overwriting with the Copy Command
Copying a file to a different directory that contains a file with the same name allows you to overwrite (replace) the original file.
DOS will ask you if you are about to overwrite a file.
If you answer Yes – the specific file will be replaced.
If you answer No – that specific COPY will be aborted.
If you have selected multiple files and answer All – then all files will be replaced.

9. Combining Text Files with Copy
Concatenation is a method of creating a new file out of two or more smaller files.
Normally concatenated files should only be used with text files.
Syntax:
COPY Source1 + Source2 Destination
Example:
C:>Copy A:\1HW + A:\2HW C:\Ch5.NEW