AmigaOS Manual: AmigaDOS Command Reference

The commands in this chapter are executed from the Shell window. They are described in alphabetic order; however, some commands reserved for system use appear together at the end of the chapter.

Command Documentation

Each command documented in this manual is shown with the format, arguments, options, symbols, and abbreviations required for proper use.

This chapter and Chapter 7 provide command specifications for the AmigaDOS commands and the Workbench programs accessible through the Shell using the following standard outline:

Format

All the arguments and options accepted by a command. The special characters that indicate the particular type of argument are described on page 6-6.

Template

An optional on-line reminder of the command's format that is embedded in the program's code. Entering a command followed by a space and a question mark (for example, DIR ?) displays the template. A complete description of the template notation is found on page 6-8.

Location

The directory where the command is normally stored.

Examples

A sample use of the command. Examples are displayed in the courier typeface to distinguish them from normal text. The 1> represents the Shell prompt; do not type it as part of the example command. Lines in the example not prefaced by 1> represent the output of a command. Command names and keywords are shown in all upper case letters and file and directory names usually have the first letter in upper case; however, they do not need to be entered that way. Press Return to execute the command line.

Separate commands and arguments with spaces. Use punctuation only when required in the syntax of specific commands.

Format

The following lists the characters that indicate the type of argument shown in format listings. Do not use these characters as part of the command.

< >	Angle brackets indicate where additional information, such as a file name, must be included. This argument is required if it is not surrounded by square brackets. (For example, [<filename>]; see below.)
[ ]	Square brackets enclose optional arguments and keywords. Although not required, these arguments and keywords are accepted by the command.
{ }	Braces enclose items that can be given once or repeated any number of times. For example, {<args>} indicates that several items can be given for this argument.
|	Vertical bars separate lists of options from which you can choose only one. For example, [OPT R|S|RS] indicates a choice of the R option, the S option, or both options.
<n>	A numeric value is expected by the argument.
KEYWORD	Italics indicate that the argument's keyword is required if you include that argument.
...	An ellipsis (...) after a string argument indicates that the string must be the final argument on the command line. Including a comment is not allowed. The remainder of the command line is taken as the desired string. Quotation marks are not needed around the string, even if it contains spaces. If you enter quotation marks, they are part of the string. If you specify the keyword, you can put leading and trailing spaces in the string.
command line indentation	On command lines that are long enough to wrap to the next line, this manual shows the wrapped lines as indented for documentation purposes only. In practice, the wrapped lines align with the first character of the Shell prompt.

The format for the COPY command illustrates the use of these conventions:

COPY [FROM] {<name | pattern>} [TO]<name | pattern>[ALL]
   [QUIET] [BUF | BUFFER=<n>] [CLONE] [DATES] [NOPRO]
   [COM] [NOREQ]

The [FROM] keyword is optional. If it is not specified, the command reads the file name ir pattern to copy by ist position on the command line.

The {<name | pattern>} argument must be provided. You must substitute either a file name or pattern. The braces indicate that more than one name or pattern can be given.

The [TO] keyword is optional. If it is not specified, the command reads the file name or device to copy to by its position on the command line.

The <name | pattern> argument must be provided. You can specify only one destination.

The [ALL], [QUIET], [CLONE], [DATES], [NOPRO], [COM], and [NOREQ] arguments are optional.

The [BUF | BUFFER=<n>] argument is optional. If given, the keyword is required, but you can use either BUF or BUFFER with the numerical argument. For example, both BUF=5 and BUFFER=5 are acceptable. The numerical argument can also be entered without the equals sign; spaces are optional.

Template

The Template is built into the system to serve as an on-line reminder of a command's syntax and to let you run the command from the Template line by providing a prompt at which you enter the command's arguments.

Display the Template by entering a question mark (?) after a command. The Shell assumes that you wish to run the command and it expects you to enter the command's arguments after the colon following the display. For example:

1> TYPE ?
FROM/A/M,TO/K,OPT/K,HEX/S,NUMBER/S:

Pressing Return executes the command if it does not require any arguments to run properly. Entering the arguments and their respective keywords and then pressing Return also executes the command. If a command requires arguments and you do not supply them or if you enter anything other than the required arguments, pressing Return results in a non-fatal error message. Remember that you do not need to enter the entire format for a command at this prompt, just the required arguments.

The Templates are listed with the arguments separated by commas, followed by a slash (/), and a capital letter indicating the type of argument. These slash/letter combinations are displayed to remind you of the command's particular requirements and are not entered as part of the command. The following table explains the notation:

Template Notation	Format Equivalent	Meaning
argument/A	<name>	The argument is always required.
option/K	KEYWORD	The option's keyword is required if the argument is given.
option/S	[KEYWORD]	The option works as a switch. The name of the option must be entered to specify it. Most options are switches.
value/N	<n>	The argument is numeric.
argument/M	{<name>}	Multiple items are accepted for this argument. Although there is no limit to the number of possible arguments, they must be provided before the next argument or option.
string/F	argument...	The string must be the final argument on the command line; the remainder of the command line is taken as the desired string.
=	KYWD | KEYWORD	Two different forms of the keyword are equivalent and either are accepted. The equals sign is not entered as part of the command.

The Template for the COPY command illustrates the use of arguments:

FROM/M,TO/A,ALL/S,QUIET/S,BUF=BUFFER/K/N,
CLONE/S,DATES/S,NOPRO/S,COM/S,NOREQ/S

FROM/M indicates that the argument is required and more than one argument is acceptable.

TO/A indicates that the argument is required.

ALL/S, QUIET/S, CLONE/S, DATES/S, NOPRO/S, COM/S, and NOREQ/S indicate that the keywords act as switches. If the keyword is present in the line, the option is used.

BUF=BUFFER/K/N indicates that the BUF or BUFFER keyword (/K) is required to specify this numerical (/N) argument. Both BUF and BUFFER are acceptable keywords (=).

Keywords and their arguments can be linked with an equals sign (=) to ensure correct assignments in complex cases. For example, BUF=20.

Command Listing

To Be Continued...