Hello,

What do % signs around a variable mean in DOS?
Where can I find more information on DOS? I can
find lots on Unix shells on the web, but very little
on XP's DOS environment.

Thanks,

JG

DOS stands for Disk Operating System, there is NO DOS in XP, what you see is
a command line interface.
A quick Google search, which you can do in the comfort of your own home,
turns up many hits on the subject.
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d....mspx?mfr=true

"John Goche" <johngoche******.com> wrote in message
news:1164659484.877241.262710@45g2000cws.googlegro ups.com...
>
> Hello,
>
> What do % signs around a variable mean in DOS?
> Where can I find more information on DOS? I can
> find lots on Unix shells on the web, but very little
> on XP's DOS environment.
>
> Thanks,
>
> JG
>

"John Goche" <johngoche******.com> wrote:

>
>Hello,
>
>What do % signs around a variable mean in DOS?
>Where can I find more information on DOS? I can
>find lots on Unix shells on the web, but very little
>on XP's DOS environment.

That tells the command shell to retrieve the value of the environment
variable whose name is between the % signs, and insert that value into
the command.

To see all the environment variables, type

set

on a command line.

--
Tim Slattery
MS MVP(DTS)
Slattery_T@bls.gov

Dave B. wrote:
> DOS stands for Disk Operating System, there is NO DOS in XP, what you
> see is a command line interface.

1. And that's relevant to the OPs question how?
2. You're wrong anyway: There is no MS-DOS but there definitely IS a DOS
within XP. You are misinformed, if you're informat at all, that is.
3. If you feel the need to display your arrogance and disrespect for folks,
why not run over to the Warez group? You'll really be appreciated there.
4. You have only a partial knowledge of what you're trying to talk about,
if you have any at all, and aren't just parroting for narcissistic or
egotistical impact.


> A quick Google search, which you can do in the comfort of your own
> home, turns up many hits on the subject.
> http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d....mspx?mfr=true

The link doesn't take one to any particular subject.

Pop`

>
> "John Goche" <johngoche******.com> wrote in message
> news:1164659484.877241.262710@45g2000cws.googlegro ups.com...
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> What do % signs around a variable mean in DOS?
>> Where can I find more information on DOS? I can
>> find lots on Unix shells on the web, but very little
>> on XP's DOS environment.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> JG

"John Goche" <johngoche******.com> wrote in message
news:1164659484.877241.262710@45g2000cws.googlegro ups.com...
>
> Hello,
>
> What do % signs around a variable mean in DOS?
> Where can I find more information on DOS? I can
> find lots on Unix shells on the web, but very little
> on XP's DOS environment.
>
> Thanks,
>
> JG
>

If you create a shortcut to the following you will have plenty of reading
material (all one line)

%systemroot%\hh.exe Ms-its:%systemroot%\help\ntcmds.chm::/ntcmds.htm


--
Jon

You don't have to know everything, you just need to know how to find it.

It is as you stae - "%" serves as a "placeholder for a variable. Search for
info on "cmd.exe" rather than DOS./

"Jon" <Email_Address@SomewhereOrOther.com> wrote in message
news:eJ$t1EoEHHA.3188@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>
>
>
> "John Goche" <johngoche******.com> wrote in message
> news:1164659484.877241.262710@45g2000cws.googlegro ups.com...
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> What do % signs around a variable mean in DOS?
>> Where can I find more information on DOS? I can
>> find lots on Unix shells on the web, but very little
>> on XP's DOS environment.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> JG
>>
>
> If you create a shortcut to the following you will have plenty of reading
> material (all one line)
>
> %systemroot%\hh.exe Ms-its:%systemroot%\help\ntcmds.chm::/ntcmds.htm
>
>
> --
> Jon
>
> You don't have to know everything, you just need to know how to find it.

"Pop`" <nodoby@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote:

>Dave B. wrote:
>> DOS stands for Disk Operating System, there is NO DOS in XP, what you
>> see is a command line interface.
>
>1. And that's relevant to the OPs question how?
>2. You're wrong anyway: There is no MS-DOS but there definitely IS a DOS
>within XP.

No there isn't. There is a command console, which can run many 16-bit
real-mode DOS programs, and its command interpreter understands many
commands that the DOS command interpreter does. But it's definitely
not DOS, it's a 32-bit command console that can do far more than DOS
can.

--
Tim Slattery
MS MVP(DTS)
Slattery_T@bls.gov

"Pop`" wrote

> Dave B. wrote:
>> DOS stands for Disk Operating System, there is NO DOS in XP, what you
>> see is a command line interface.
>
> 1. And that's relevant to the OPs question how?
> 2. You're wrong anyway: There is no MS-DOS but there definitely IS a DOS
> within XP. You are misinformed, if you're informat at all, that is.

<snip>

Where do you get this about "there definitely IS a DOS within XP"?

Rock wrote:
> "Pop`" wrote
>
>> Dave B. wrote:
>>> DOS stands for Disk Operating System, there is NO DOS in XP, what
>>> you see is a command line interface.
>>
>> 1. And that's relevant to the OPs question how?
>> 2. You're wrong anyway: There is no MS-DOS but there definitely IS
>> a DOS within XP. You are misinformed, if you're informat at all,
>> that is.
>
> <snip>
>
> Where do you get this about "there definitely IS a DOS within XP"?

No computer can operate with one.
MS defines it correctly if you READ what they wrote. Even Help includes a
LOT of info about "DOS" commands, etc., but does not talk about MSDOS, which
is not the same thing.

THAT is how it's relevant when you put it in context of your post to the OP
that you neatly snipped in order to avoid embarassment.

"Pop`" <nodoby@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:%23CmDF1WFHHA.4588@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Rock wrote:
>> "Pop`" wrote
>>
>>> Dave B. wrote:
>>>> DOS stands for Disk Operating System, there is NO DOS in XP, what
>>>> you see is a command line interface.
>>>
>>> 1. And that's relevant to the OPs question how?
>>> 2. You're wrong anyway: There is no MS-DOS but there definitely IS
>>> a DOS within XP. You are misinformed, if you're informat at all,
>>> that is.
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>> Where do you get this about "there definitely IS a DOS within XP"?
>
> No computer can operate with one.
> MS defines it correctly if you READ what they wrote. Even Help includes a
> LOT of info about "DOS" commands, etc., but does not talk about MSDOS,
> which is not the same thing.
>
> THAT is how it's relevant when you put it in context of your post to the
> OP that you neatly snipped in order to avoid embarassment.


I'm sorry but I don't understand your post at all. What do you mean by "No
computer can operate with one?". XP is not based on DOS in any way. It has
a command line interpreter with commands similar to the DOS commands, but
DOS does not exist in XP.

"Pop`" <nodoby@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:%23CmDF1WFHHA.4588@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Rock wrote:
>> "Pop`" wrote
>>
>>> Dave B. wrote:
>>>> DOS stands for Disk Operating System, there is NO DOS in XP, what
>>>> you see is a command line interface.
>>>
>>> 1. And that's relevant to the OPs question how?
>>> 2. You're wrong anyway: There is no MS-DOS but there definitely IS
>>> a DOS within XP. You are misinformed, if you're informat at all,
>>> that is.
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>> Where do you get this about "there definitely IS a DOS within XP"?
>
> No computer can operate with one.
> MS defines it correctly if you READ what they wrote. Even Help includes a
> LOT of info about "DOS" commands, etc., but does not talk about MSDOS,
> which is not the same thing.
>
> THAT is how it's relevant when you put it in context of your post to the
> OP that you neatly snipped in order to avoid embarassment.


I'm sorry but I don't understand your post at all. What do you mean by "No
computer can operate with one?". XP is not based on DOS in any way. It has
a command line interpreter with commands similar to the DOS commands, but
DOS does not exist in XP.