command line switches

gregweb16

The objectives say that one should know the list of commands (Dir, attrib, etc) plus switches. Does anyone know what sorts of switches the objectives might be referring to/what might come up on the exam?

sprkymrk

I never took the A+, but you can find the various switches for most commands by running them from a command propmt with the /? switch. Here is an example:

C:\>attrib /?
Displays or changes file attributes.

ATTRIB [+R | -R] [+A | -A ] [+S | -S] [+H | -H] [drive:][path][filename]
[/S [/D]]

+ Sets an attribute.
- Clears an attribute.
R Read-only file attribute.
A Archive file attribute.
S System file attribute.
H Hidden file attribute.
[drive:][path][filename]
Specifies a file or files for attrib to process.
/S Processes matching files in the current folder
and all subfolders.
/D Processes folders as well.

So according to the output, you can use the attrib command with a +R to make a file "read only". Using a -R would clear the "read only" attribute. So here are the uses in that case:

attrib +R c:\myfile.txt will make the file "read only".
attrib -R c:\myfile.txt will clear the read only attribute.
attrib c:\myfile.txt will display, or tell you, the attributes of the file.

I recommend exploring the various commands and their switches by using the /? for anything that may be on the exam.