cmd

layout	sheet
title	BASIC-DOS Commands
permalink	/docs/bdman/cmd/

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BASIC-DOS has a single command shell for both DOS commands (eg, DIR) and BASIC statements (eg, PRINT), so any command can be typed at the prompt or used in a BASIC program. Commands are organized as follows:

• BASIC Commands: statements for variables, control flow, error handling, and memory
• BASIC Functions: numeric, string, and system functions, and predefined constants
• Device Commands: clock, keyboard, screen, graphics, and sound
• Disk Commands: copying, deleting, listing, loading, and displaying files
• External Commands: COM, EXE, BAT, and BAS programs
• System Commands: help, memory, program management, and system control

In the descriptions that follow, italics indicate values that you supply, brackets ([ ]) indicate optional items, and a vertical bar (|) separates alternatives.

As in MS-DOS, a DOS command typed as one word with a path (eg, CD\, CD\EXT, or DIR\HELP.TXT) doesn't need a space before the path. Unlike MS-DOS, however, a command followed by a path that begins with . (eg, CD..) still needs a space (eg, CD ..).

Commands A-Z

Command	Category	Command	Category
AUTO	System	LOAD	Disk
CD	Disk	LOCATE	Screen
CHAIN	BASIC	LPRINT	Screen
CIRCLE	Graphics	MD	Disk
CLEAR	BASIC	MEM	System
CLS	Screen	MERGE	Disk
COLOR	Screen	MOUSE	Mouse
COPY	Disk	NEW	System
DATA	BASIC	NEXT	BASIC
DATE	Clock	ON	BASIC
DEF	BASIC	OPTION BASE	BASIC
DEF SEG	BASIC	PAINT	Graphics
DEFDBL	BASIC	PLAY	Sound
DEFINT	BASIC	POKE	BASIC
DEFSTR	BASIC	PRESET	Graphics
DEL	Disk	PRINT	Screen
DELETE	System	PSET	Graphics
DIM	BASIC	PUT	Graphics
DIR	Disk	RD	Disk
DRAW	Graphics	READ	BASIC
ECHO	Screen	REM	BASIC
EDIT	System	REN	Disk
END	BASIC	RESTART	System
ERASE	BASIC	RESTORE	BASIC
ERROR	BASIC	RESUME	BASIC
EXIT	System	RETURN	BASIC
FOR	BASIC	RUN	System
GET	Graphics	SAVE	Disk
GOSUB	BASIC	SCREEN	Screen
GOTO	BASIC	SOUND	Sound
HELP	System	STOP	BASIC
IF	BASIC	TIME	Clock
IOCTL	BASIC	TYPE	Disk
KEY	Keyboard	VER	System
KEYS	System	VIEW	Graphics
LET	BASIC	WEND	BASIC
LINE	Graphics	WHILE	BASIC
LIST	System	WIDTH	Screen
LLIST	System	WINDOW	Graphics
See BASIC Functions for the list of functions and predefined constants.

Not Yet Supported

The following commands, statements, and functions from PC DOS and IBM PC BASIC aren't supported yet:

• PC DOS commands: DISKCOMP and PRINT (background printing); the other PC DOS 1.00 utilities (eg, CHKDSK, DISKCOPY, FORMAT, and SYS) are BASIC programs in the EXT directory (see External Commands)
• BASIC statements: BEEP, BLOAD, BSAVE, CALL, CHAIN's DELETE option, COMMON, CONT, DEF USR, OUT, PCOPY, RUN line (and RUN's R option), TRON, TROFF, WAIT, WIDTH LPRINT, and event trapping (eg, ON TIMER(n) GOSUB)
• BASIC functions: INP, STICK, STRIG, TIMER, USR, VARPTR, and VARPTR$

Some features of PC DOS and IBM PC BASIC aren't planned at all, such as PAUSE and the rest of PC DOS's batch file syntax (BAT files are BASIC programs; see Batch Files), CTTY (see CON=), and PRINT USING (see How to replace PRINT USING).

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