Using the Java Development Kit - Java 6 - page 601

Command line

FIGURE A.2
Using a newly
opened command-
line window.

A

In the window, a cursor blinks on the command line whenever you can type in a new
command. In Figure A.2, C:\Documents and Settings\Rogers> is the command line.

Because MS-DOS can be used to delete files and even format your hard drive, you
should learn something about the operating system before experimenting with its com-
mands.

NOTE

If you'd like to learn a lot about MS-DOS, a good book is Special
Edition Using MS-DOS 6.22, Third Edition , published by Que
(emphasis on the words “a lot”—the topic is 1,056 pages long).

However, you only need to know a few things about MS-DOS to use the kit: how to cre-
ate a folder, how to open a folder, and how to run a program.

Opening Folders in MS-DOS
When you are using MS-DOS on a Windows system, you have access to all the folders
you normally use in Windows. For example, if you have a Windows folder on your C:
hard drive, the same folder is accessible as C:\Windows from a command line.

To open a folder in MS-DOS, type the command CD , followed by the name of the folder,
and press Enter. Here's an example:

CD C:\TEMP

When you enter this command, the TEMP folder on your system's C: drive will be opened,
if it exists. After you open a folder, your command line will be updated with the name of
that folder, as shown in Figure A.3.