Useful Computer Commands


             BASIC UNIX, DOS, AND VAX/VMS COMMANDS
                        A 'CHEAT SHEET'
 
In the following table, the first line of each entry gives a VMS
command, the second line gives the DOS equivalent, and the third
the UNIX equivalent.
 
=================================================================
VMS Command
DOS command
UNIX Equivalent           Comments
=================================================================
DIR                       Listing of user's files (brief).  For
DIR/W                     UNIX, ls -a is needed to show files
ls                        with a "dot" prefix (i.e., .fname).
----------------------------------------------------------------- 
DIR/FULL                  Detailed listing of user's files.
DIR
ls -al
-----------------------------------------------------------------
COPY fname1 fname2        Copies file fname1 to fname2.
COPY fname1 fname2
cp fname1 fname2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
DEL fname.;1              Deletes the specified file.
DEL fname
rm fname
-----------------------------------------------------------------
RENAME fname1 fname2      Renames file fname1 to fname2 (also moves
RENAME fname1 fname2      file, if directory path is included).
mv fname1 fname2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
TYPE fname                Displays file fname on the screen.
TYPE fname
cat fname
-----------------------------------------------------------------
TYPE/PAGE fname           Displays file, 1 page at a time, with
  (or LIST fname)         prompting.
TYPE fname |more
more fname
-----------------------------------------------------------------
PRINT fname               Prints file on Computing Services' line
PRINT fname               printer.  For DOS: prints file on local
lpr fname                 printer.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SET PROT=O:RWED fname     Change protection on a file.  VAX: 
ATTRIB +R fname           O=owner; RWED = read, write, execute,
chmod u+rwx fname         delete.  For DOS the only protections are
                          +R (write enabled) and -R (write
                          disabled). Unix: u=user, +rwx = "on" for
                          read, write, and execute.  Also can use -
                          for "off", e.g., go-x means "off" for
                          "group" and "other" i.e., everyone
else).
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SET DEFAULT [dir_name]    Change directory to dir_name.
CD dir_name
cd dir_name
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SET DEFAULT SYS$LOGIN     Change to root or login directory.
   (or HOME)
CD \    
cd
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SET DEFAULT [-]           Change directories by moving up one
   (or UP)                level.
CD ..
cd ..
-----------------------------------------------------------------
DIRECTORY/CREATE [.dir_name]
   (or MD dir_name)
MKDIR [dir_name]          Create a subdirectory named dir_name.
mkdir [dir_name]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
DEL dir_name.;1           Remove (delete) the specified
   (or RD dir_name)       subdirectory.
RMDIR dir_name
rmdir dir_name
-----------------------------------------------------------------
HELP command_name         Find out more about this command. (For 
HELP command_name         DOS, the HELP command was not available
man command_name          in earlier versions.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SET PASSWORD              Change your password.
[not applicable]
passwd
-----------------------------------------------------------------
CLS                       Clear the terminal screen.
CLS
clear
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SHOW TIME (or DATE)       See date and time. (On DOS, TIME also
TIME (or DATE)            allows user to set the clock.)
date
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SHOW QUOTA                Find out available disk space quota.
CHKDSK d:                 (d: stands for drive name on DOS.)
quota -v


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