Directory Navigation Tools for DOS
(command line editors, directory changers, directory listers, program execution aids)

Ratings: [* fair] to [* * * * * excellent]

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DosEd- Command line editor with file name completion.
CmdEdit- Command line editor with f-name completion, command aliases, more.

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DosEd.

Most people hate the command line of DOS because they have to type in long commands with paths and switches. And if you make a mistake, you may be forced to backspace and type the whole thing in again. Savvy users of DOS have been using DOS's own DOSKEY program to alleviate this tedium. Previous commands are saved in memory and can be recalled using the arrow keys. DosKey works well and has a few more features than DosEd (e.g., command macros). One thing it can't do, however, is complete file names. What is file-name completion? If you type in the first couple characters of a filename, and then press DosEd's hotkey (TAB), it will type the rest of the filename in for you. If your files are named similarly, it can provide you with a list of alternatives and you type until you reach the unique character and press TAB again. It also completes path names. There are utilities available that perform the individual tasks of DosEd- but running several TSR programs concurrently can lead to hotkey conflicts, etc.

CmdEdit- Presently being evaluated as a replacement for DosEd.

Advantages over DosEd:
    1. More filename completion options: list or cycle through filenames.
    2. Macros and symbol (alias) expansion.
    3. Adjustable memory buffer sizes: history, command lengths.
    4. Lots of bells and whistles for the power user.
Disadvantages:
    1. Loading CmdEdit in a DOS window (Windows 3.1) may violate system integrity. May result from graphics driver incompatability. Solution: Load full screen or preload in autoexec.bat.
    2. Command line history is erased when a DOS window is closed under Windows.
    3. I noticed that the CHD command (change drive and directory simultaneously) works but the command prompt still displays the old directory. I am running OpenDos- not MS-DOS- and this may be a version problem.

download cmded2j1.zip (CmdEdit)
download dosed520.zip (DosEd)


ACD- Quickly change to any directory (no more typing those long paths).

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No one should be without this utility- or one of its several look-alikes. ACD lets you change to ANY directory with one short command. ACD can change to hidden directories as well- one reason I prefer it. It is highly configurable. Used in conjunction with DosEd or CmdEdit, you will have complete control over that nasty command line.

download acd233.zip


DL- A powerful directory lister. Unix-like.

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There are many DIR replacements floating around the universe. What makes this directory viewer special? Actually something quite simple. Output is paged to the screen and you can scroll up or down to view a directory listing. Combined with many display options (which can be saved to a config file, no less) this app falls a bit short only because it won't allow file sorting by different criteria.

download dl100.zip.


WDIR ("d.exe")- DIR clone with color coding and archive/ image description capabilities.

* * * * reviewed 7-4-97

This is a DIR clone (uses same switches as DIR) with some additional capabilities. Like some other DIR clones, WDIR can color-code file types. In addition, archive contents (zip, arj, rar, lzh.) can be displayed, as can image resolutions and subformats (jpg, bmp, tga, gif, pcx). A nice batch tool for quickly obtaining this type of information. Switch combinations can be saved to a configuration file or set as a variable in autoexec.bat.

The following changes have been made to v1.26 (released July 1st 1997):

  * /P now works with /W.
  * Faster display with /P and many files. The screen is cleared is the
    number of files remaining will fill the screen again.
  * /S works with directories that are hidden.
  * The name of the filesystem is shown after the drive letter, however not
    with /DIR specified.
  * Still after v1.25, some JPEG images didn't have the correct width and
    height. This should now be corrected.
  * 12:00-12.59am previously became 0:00-0:59. Fixed.
  * .lha files display just like .lzh with /LZH.
  * The path is now searched for the configuration file if no path is given
    and it isn't found in the current directory.
  * /LWN is no longer used with /LFN, it's used separetely. Specifying
    '/LWN' has the same effect as '/LFN /LWN' previously had.

download wdir126.zip.


IMD- Directory lister also displays properties and descriptions of images.

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This is a bare-bones directory lister which also lists properties of GIF, JPEG/JFIF, PCX, PING and Windows BMP image files. Will also display 4DOS descriptions of images. Progressive JPEG format not read correctly.

download imd102.zip


PICK- Pick files from pop up list to pass to command line programs.

* * * * reviewed 6-30-97

PICK is one of those subtly useful utilities that's difficult to explain in a sentence. Think of it as a "file open" dialog for command line programs that lack them. Or think of it as a batch file analog. For example, suppose you have a directory of text files (*.txt) that you'd like to view in a certain sequence- but your text file viewer requires that you load each file separately on the command line because it lacks its own directory lister. Typing the commands repeatedly is a bit tedious. This is where PICK can help. You supply PICK the program name (e.g., MYVIEWER) and the extension of the files you want to view (e.g., *.TXT) as parameters. PICK then pops up a list of all the files with the matching extension, and allows you to highlight a file to pass to the viewing program. When you're finished viewing the first file (i.e., exit the viewer), the PICK list reappears, and you can select another file to view. There are many potential uses for this program.

download pick12.zip


EXEC- Allows execution of a program from any directory.

* * * reviewed 6-13-97

Recommended directory utiltites included in the DOSUT package:

  1. EXEC- Execute any program from any directory without typing its path. Creates a control file to store program locations. You can pass parameters to programs when executing with EXEC. If you are unsure of a program's name you can type a substring- and EXEC will list possible alternatives. A drawback of this feature is that EXEC always queries the user if the name is correct. It would be nice if there was an option that made using EXEC a less interactive affair. If you are running under DOS, EXEC also has an option to launch Windows and run the desired program (this doesn't work in a DOS box under Windows).
  2. Notes: 1) Not all programs will launch using EXEC. 2) The EXEC control file is generated for one drive only. Workaround: Since the control file is a text file you can generate separate control files for each drive, and then join them into a master control file.

  3. LSI- A nice Unix LS-like directory lister with file delete and system information options.

download dosut048.zip


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(c)1997 Richard L. Green