Epson 386, User Manual

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Some commands also have optional switches you can use. A switch is
a type of parameter that alters the effects of a command. For example,
suppose you want to format a 360KB diskette in your 1.2MB diskette
drive. To do this, you need to add a switch to the FORMAT
command like this:
FORMAT A: /4
Without the /4 switch, FORMAT would try to format the diskette as
a 1.2MB capacity diskette. Switches are generally preceded by a
forward slash ( / ).
Each MS-DOS command is either internal or external. Internal
commands are commands that are built into MS-DOS and can be
used at any time once MS-DOS is loaded into memory. External
commands are stored on your system diskettes as program files. To
--
run an external command, MS-DOS must be able to locate the file
containing the command’s instructions. If it cannot find the file,
MS-DOS gives you an error message.
See your MS-DOS Reference Manual for more information on the
command format. Also see your MS-DOS Reference Manual for
command descriptions that tell you which parameters and delimiters
are required for each command and which optional parameters and
switches you can use.
Entering MS-DOS Commands
You can enter an MS-DOS command whenever you see the
MS-DOS command prompt. Type the command name and any
necessary parameters and delimiters and then press
Enter
to execute
the command. You can type command names and parameters in
either uppercase or lowercase letters.
If you make a mistake when typing a command and you notice it
before you press
Enter,
you can do either of two things:
l
Use the
Backspace
key to back up to the error so you can
correct it
Press
E
SC
to cancel the command line.
5-4 Using MS-DOS
with Your Equity 386