Microsoft DOS doskey command
Quick links
About doskey
Availability
Syntax
Examples
Technical support
About doskey
Doskey is a MS-DOS utility that allows a user to keep a history of commands used on the computer. This allows frequently used commands to be used without having to type the commands in each time you need to use it.
Availability
The doskey.exe command is an external command and is available in the below Microsoft operating systems.
MS-DOS 5.0 and above
Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows ME
Windows NT
Windows 2000
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Syntax
Edits command lines, recalls command lines, and creates macros
DOSKEY [/switch ...] [macroname=[text]]
| /BUFSIZE:size |
Sets size of macro and command buffer |
(default:512) |
| /ECHO:on|off |
nables/disables echo of macro expansions |
(default:on) |
| /FILE:file |
Specifies file containing a list of macros |
|
| /HISTORY |
Displays all commands stored in memory |
|
| /INSERT |
Inserts new characters into line when typing |
|
| /KEYSIZE:size |
Sets size of keyboard type-ahead buffer |
(default:15) |
| /LINE:size |
Sets maximum size of line edit buffer |
(default:128) |
| /MACROS |
Displays all DOSKey macros |
|
| /OVERSTRIKE |
Overwrites new characters onto line when typing |
(default) |
| /REINSTALL |
Installs a new copy of DOSKey |
|
| macroname |
Specifies a name for a macro you create |
|
| text |
Specifies commands you want to assign to the macro |
|
| UP,DOWN |
arrows recall commands |
| Esc |
clears current command |
| F7 |
displays command history |
| Alt+F7 |
clears command history |
| [chars]F8 |
searches for command beginning with [chars] |
| F9 |
selects a command by number |
| Alt+F10 |
clears macro definitions |
Below are special codes you can use in DOSKey macro definitions.
| $T |
Command separator: allows multiple commands in a macro |
| $1-$9 |
Batch parameters: equivalent to %1-%9 in batch programs |
| $* |
Symbol replaced by everything following macro name on the command line |
Examples
doskey
Starts doskey and allows you to press the up or down command to see history, or right or left to retype previous command.
Technical support
Specifying a buffer size larger than 61900 for DOSKEY causes the computer to freeze.
DOSKEY supports approximately 61900 bytes. Due to an error in the DOSKEY program that causes DOSKEY to mark memory as unused when it terminates and stays resident, specifying a buffer size larger than this amount causes the computer to hang. |
