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 (including HELP)
• System Commands: memory, program management, and system control

In the descriptions that follow, italics indicate values that you supply, brackets ([ ]) indicate optional items, a vertical bar (|) separates alternatives, and ... means that the item before it can be repeated. A statement with more than one form shows each form on a line of its own. A file number is written #n: in OPEN, CLOSE, FIELD, GET, PUT, IOCTL, and INPUT$, the # is optional, and as in Microsoft BASIC, the space before a # is optional, too (eg, PRINT#1,X).

As in MS-DOS, a DOS command typed as one word with a path (eg, CD\, CD\EXT, or DIR\EXT) 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	LOCATE	Screen
CD	Disk	LPRINT	Screen
CHAIN	BASIC	MD	Disk
CIRCLE	Graphics	MEM	System
CLEAR	BASIC	MERGE	Disk
CLS	Screen	MOUSE	Mouse
COLOR	Screen	NEW	System
COPY	Disk	NEXT	BASIC
DATA	BASIC	ON	BASIC
DATE	Clock	OPTION BASE	BASIC
DEF	BASIC	PAINT	Graphics
DEF SEG	BASIC	PLAY	Sound
DEFDBL	BASIC	POKE	BASIC
DEFINT	BASIC	PRESET	Graphics
DEFSTR	BASIC	PRINT	Screen
DEL	Disk	PSET	Graphics
DELETE	System	PUT	Graphics
DIM	BASIC	RD	Disk
DIR	Disk	READ	BASIC
DRAW	Graphics	REM	BASIC
ECHO	Screen	REN	Disk
EDIT	System	RESTART	System
END	BASIC	RESTORE	BASIC
ERASE	BASIC	RESUME	BASIC
ERROR	BASIC	RETURN	BASIC
EXIT	System	RUN	System
FOR	BASIC	SAVE	Disk
GET	Graphics	SCREEN	Screen
GOSUB	BASIC	SOUND	Sound
GOTO	BASIC	STOP	BASIC
IF	BASIC	TIME	Clock
IOCTL	BASIC	TYPE	Disk
KEY	Keyboard	VER	System
LET	BASIC	VIEW	Graphics
LINE	Graphics	WEND	BASIC
LIST	System	WHILE	BASIC
LLIST	System	WIDTH	Screen
LOAD	Disk	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, 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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