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Pastimes : Computer Learning
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To: Esteban who wrote (20898)6/21/2001 10:24:45 PM
From: PMS Witch  Read Replies (1) of 110652
 
You're correct. The DOS prompt often contains the > character.

In DOS, the prompt can be selected by using the PROMPT command or the SET command.

Examples...

PROMPT=$p$g

This gives a prompt with the default directory path ($p) followed by the >, or greater sign ($g). The symbols beginning with $ are necessary because DOS will interpret them as part of the command instead of part of the desired prompt.

$Q = (equal sign)
$$ $ (dollar sign)
$T Current time
$D Current date
$P Current drive and path
$V Windows version number
$N Current drive
$G > (greater-than sign)
$L < (less-than sign)
$B | (pipe)
$H Backspace (erases previous character)
$E Escape code (ASCII code 27)
$_ Carriage return and linefeed

Type PROMPT without anything else to reset prompt to its default value.

The same effect can be achieved with the SET command.

Example...

SET PROMPT=It's now $T $H$H$H$H$H$H$H $G

This will give a prompt looking like this:

It's now 10:24 >

The text gets included as given, the $T prints the time, and the $H backspaces one character. Seven $H are used to backspace out the seconds and second fraction part of the time.

PROMPT /? will display the command's help.

Cheers, PW.

The $E, or ESC character can be used when the ANSI.SYS driver is loaded to further customize the prompt's appearance. (Custom colours comes to mind.)
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