Editing DOSKEY

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019|cs1-dates=y}}
{{Infobox software
| name                   = DOSKEY
| logo                   = 
| screenshot             = ReactOS-0.4.13 doskey command 667x434.png
| screenshot size        = 
| caption                = The [[ReactOS]] <code>doskey</code> command
| developer              = [[Microsoft]], [[IBM]], [[Novell]], ReactOS contributors
| released               = {{Release year|1991|df=yes}}
| latest release version = 
| latest release date    = 
| operating system       = [[MS-DOS]], [[IBM PC DOS|PC DOS]], [[OS/2]], [[eComStation]], [[ArcaOS]], [[Novell DOS 7]], [[DR-DOS]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[ReactOS]]
| platform               = [[Cross-platform]]
| genre                  = [[Command (computing)|Command]]
| license                = 
| website                = {{URL|https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/doskey}}
}}
'''DOSKEY''' is a [[command (computing)|command]] in [[DOS]], [[OS/2]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jatomes.com/Help/Os2Cmd.php#DOSKEY |title=JaTomes Help - OS/2 Commands |access-date=28 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414130029/http://www.jatomes.com/Help/Os2Cmd.php#DOSKEY |archive-date=14 April 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Windows]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb490894.aspx |title = Doskey {{!}} Microsoft Docs| date=11 September 2009 }}</ref> and [[ReactOS]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/reactos/reactos/blob/master/base/applications/cmdutils/doskey/doskey.c|title = Reactos/Reactos|website = [[GitHub]]|date = 2 November 2021}}</ref> that adds [[command history]], [[Macro (computer science)|macro]] functionality, and improved editing features to the <code>[[COMMAND.COM]]</code> and <code>[[cmd.exe]]</code> [[command-line interpreter]] [[shell (computing)|shells]].

==History==
The command was included as a [[terminate-and-stay-resident program]] with [[MS-DOS]] and [[PC&nbsp;DOS]] versions 5 and later,<ref name="RUNNINGMSDOS">{{Cite book|author-last=Wolverton|author-first=Van|title=Running MS-DOS Version 6.22 (20th Anniversary Edition), 6th Revised edition|date=2003|publisher=[[Microsoft Press]]|isbn=0-7356-1812-7}}</ref> then [[Windows 9x]],<ref>{{Cite book|author1=Tim O'Reilly|author2=Troy Mott|author3=Walter Glenn|year=1999|title=Windows 98 in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference|publisher=[[O'Reilly Media|O'Reilly]]|isbn=978-1565924864|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/windows98innutsh00orei}}</ref> and finally [[Windows 2000]]<ref>{{Cite book|first=Æleen|last=Frisch|year=2001|title=Windows 2000 Commands Pocket Reference|publisher=[[O'Reilly Media|O'Reilly]]|isbn=978-0-596-00148-3}}</ref> and later.<!--Not Windows NT?-->

In early 1989, functionality similar to <code>DOSKEY</code> was introduced with [[DR-DOS]] 3.40 with its <code>[[HISTORY (CONFIG.SYS directive)|HISTORY]]</code> [[CONFIG.SYS]] directive. This enabled a user-configurable console input history buffer and recall as well as pattern search functionality on the console driver level, that is, fully integrated into the operating system and transparent to running applications. In the summer of 1991, <code>DOSKEY</code> was introduced in MS-DOS/PC&nbsp;DOS 5.0 in order to provide some of the same functionality. <code>DOSKEY</code> also added a macro expansion facility, though special support was required before applications such as command line processors could take advantage of it. Starting with [[Novell DOS 7]] in 1993, the macro capabilities were provided by an external <code>DOSKEY</code> command as well. In order to also emulate the <code>DOSKEY</code> history buffer functionality under DR-DOS, the DR-DOS <code>DOSKEY</code> worked as a front end to the resident history buffer functionality, which remained part of the kernel.

<code>DOSKEY</code> has also been included in IBM OS/2 Version 2.0.<ref>[http://www.tavi.co.uk/os2pages/pdf/gg243731_OS2_V2_0_Vol_2_DOS_and_Windows_Environment.pdf OS/2 2.0 Redbooks Volume 2 - DOS and Windows Environment (GG24-3731)]</ref>

In current [[Windows NT]]-based operating systems, the <code>DOSKEY</code> functionality is built into [[CMD.EXE]], although the <code>DOSKEY</code> command is still used to change its operation.

The <code>DOSKEY</code> command is not available in [[FreeDOS]], which has such features built into the command interpreter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://help.fdos.org/en/hhstndrd/command/doskey.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107161606/http://help.fdos.org/en/hhstndrd/command/doskey.htm |archive-date=7 November 2011 |title=FreeDOS command: doskey}}</ref>

==Usage==
===Command switches===
DOSKEY allows the use of several [[switch (command line)|command switches]]:

<code>DOSKEY [/switch ...] [macroname=[text]]</code>

;{{mono|1=/REINSTALL}}
:Installs a new copy of DOSKEY.

;{{mono|1=/LISTSIZE=}}''[size]''
:Sets size of command history buffer to ''size''.

;{{mono|1=/MACROS}}
:Displays all DOSKEY macros.
:;{{mono|<nowiki>/MACROS:ALL</nowiki>}}
::Displays all DOSKEY macros for all executables which have DOSKEY macros.
:;{{mono|<nowiki>/MACROS:</nowiki>}}''[executable name]''
::Displays all DOSKEY macros for the given executable.

;{{mono|1=/HISTORY}}
:Displays all commands stored in memory.

;{{mono|1=/INSERT}}
:Specifies that new text typed is inserted in old text.

;{{mono|1=/OVERSTRIKE}}
:Specifies that new text overwrites old text.

;{{mono|1=/EXENAME=}}exename
:Specifies the executable.

;{{mono|1=/MACROFILE=}}filename
:Specifies a file of macros to install.

;{{mono|1=/APPEDIT}}
:(undocumented - since MS-DOS 7)

;{{mono|1=/COMMAND}}
:(undocumented - since MS-DOS 7)

;{{mono|1=/PERMANENT}}
:(undocumented - since MS-DOS 7)

;{{mono|1=/SCRSIZE}}
:(undocumented - since MS-DOS 7)

;{{mono|1=/XHISTORY}}
:(undocumented - since MS-DOS 7)

;''[macroname]''
:Specifies a name for a macro created.

;''[text]''
:Specifies commands to record.

===Keyboard shortcuts===
During a DOSKEY session, the following [[keyboard shortcut]]s can be used:

;{{keypress|Up}} and {{keypress|Down}}
:Recall commands

;{{keypress|[[Esc key|Esc]]}}
:Clears command line

;{{keypress|[[Ctrl key|Ctrl]]|[[Home key|Home]]}}
:Clears command line from the cursor to the beginning of the line.

;{{keypress|[[Ctrl key|Ctrl]]|[[End key|End]]}}
:Clears command line from the cursor to the end of the line.

;{{keypress|F7}}
:Displays command history

;{{keypress|[[Alt key|Alt]]|F7}}
:Clears command history

;{{keypress|F8}}
:Searches command history

;{{keypress|F9}}
:Selects a command by number

;{{keypress|Alt|F10}}
:Clears macro definitions

===Command macros===
DOSKEY implements support for command macros, a simple text-substitution facility which is used somewhat like command line [[Alias (command)|aliases]] in other environments.

;{{mono|$T}}
:Command separator.  Allows multiple commands in a macro.

;{{mono|$1}}–{{mono|$9}}
:Batch parameters.  Equivalent to {{mono|%1}}-{{mono|%9}} in batch programs.

;{{mono|$*}}
:Symbol replaced by everything following the macro name on command line.

==Alternatives==
The absence of a command history in <code>COMMAND.COM</code> was a serious inconvenience ever since the earliest versions of MS-DOS. Numerous third-party programs have been written to address the issue; many were available long before Microsoft supplied DOSKEY.  Some of them, including [[JP Software]]'s [[4DOS]] and [[NDOS]], also provide additional editing capabilities lacking in DOSKEY, such as [[tab completion|filename completion]].  Some of the better-known DOSKEY alternatives are Jack Gersbach's <code>DOSEDIT</code>, Chris Dunford's <code>CED</code>, Sverre Huseby's <code>DOSED</code>, Ashok Nadkarni's <code>CMDEDIT</code>, Steven Calwas's <code>ANARKEY</code>, Eric Tauck's <code>TODDY</code>, and enhanced DOSKEY written by Paul Houle.

Paul Houle's Enhanced DOSKEY<ref>{{cite web |url=http://paulhoule.com/doskey/ |title = Enhanced DOSKEY.com -- with auto-completion Paul Houle}}</ref> is designed to be an enhanced drop-in replacement for the DOSKEY.COM that ships with MS-DOS and Windows 9x/[[Windows Me]]. It also has a smaller disk and memory-resident footprint. The primary added feature is command and file "auto-completion" via the [[Tab key]]. Version 2.5, released in 2014, also adds full support for [[long filename]]s (LFN).

==See also==
*[[List of DOS commands]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book|author-last=Cooper|author-first=Jim|title=Special Edition Using MS-DOS 6.22, Third Edition|date=2001|publisher=[[Que Publishing]]|isbn=978-0789725738}}
*{{Cite book|first=Peter|last=Dyson|year=1995|title=Mastering OS/2 Warp|publisher=[[Sybex]]|isbn=978-0782116632}}
*{{Cite book|first=William R.|last=Stanek|year=2008|title=Windows Command-Line Administrator's Pocket Consultant, 2nd Edition|publisher=[[Microsoft Press]]|isbn=978-0735622623}}
*{{Cite book |title=NWDOS-TIPs &mdash; Tips & Tricks rund um Novell DOS 7, mit Blick auf undokumentierte Details, Bugs und Workarounds |series=MPDOSTIP |author-first=Matthias R. |author-last=Paul |date=1997-07-30 |edition=3 |language=de |url=http://www.antonis.de/dos/dos-tuts/mpdostip/html/nwdostip.htm |access-date=2014-08-06 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104235829/http://www.antonis.de/dos/dos-tuts/mpdostip/html/nwdostip.htm |archive-date=2016-11-04}} (NB. NWDOSTIP.TXT is part of MPDOSTIP.ZIP, maintained up to 2001 and distributed on many sites at the time. The provided link points to a HTML-converted older version of the NWDOSTIP.TXT file.)

==External links==
{{Wikibooks|Guide to Windows Commands}}
*[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/doskey doskey | Microsoft Docs]
*[http://paulhoule.com/doskey Paul Houle's enhanced DOSKEY]

{{Windows commands}}

[[Category:External DOS commands]]
[[Category:OS/2 commands]]
[[Category:ReactOS commands]]
[[Category:Utilities for Windows]]
[[Category:Windows administration]]