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Useful Tips to Create Command-Line Toolkit in Windows

Author: Brook Perry
by Brook Perry
Posted: Apr 02, 2014

If you are a system administrator, IT professional or any advanced computer user then command-lines must not be new to you. Before the existence of present day graphical user interfaces, command-lines were used often to give command to the operating system of a computer.

Even today, as compared to the graphical alternatives, command-line tools are quicker ways of prompting commands to a PC. If you are also into the habit of using these tools to make the administering and using of computer efficient and easier, then the following tips will be useful to you.

Following tips will guide you about how you can create your command line tool kit more usable to yourself.

Understanding Command-Lines

In a Windows operating system (OS), command-line tools can make various tasks faster and easier such as copying files, searching for files, accessing the Registry, modifying disk partitions, etc. There are specific commands to perform specific task. For example, the command ‘cd’ changes the current working directory or the command ‘ren’ renames a file or folder. Likewise, there are numerous command-line tools available for use.

However, to execute any of these tools, each and every time you have to type the complete path in the command line box. Typing the complete path is one tedious job that restricts many from using these otherwise very useful command lines. This lengthy process can be overruled if you configure the path environment for these tools with Windows path. For this, basically you have to do the following two things:

Creating the Toolkit (Folder) for Storing the Tools (Programs)

The first step is to create your toolkit (a folder) where you will save all command-line tools (programs). You can locate this toolkit or folder anywhere in your system but you need to properly name it. Use a name that will easily describe the purpose of the folder. For example, let’s name the toolkit as ‘command-line’ and place it at the C drive. So the path for the toolkit is C:\command-line.

Configuring the Path Environment with the Windows Path

Once you have created the toolkit and have the path for it, you need to add it to the Windows Path. This will enable you to avoid the effort of typing the full path of the command-line tool, each and every time you use it.

Perform the following steps to configure the path environment with the Windows path:

  • Click on the Start button and type ‘System’ in Search box. If you are using Windows 8, then type ‘System’ on the Start Screen.
  • Look for System control panel in the search results
  • Click on ‘System control panel’ and open the control panel
  • Click on ‘Advanced system settings’ option that appears at the left side of the window.
  • This will open the ‘System Properties screen’
  • Select the ‘Advanced’ tab in the System Properties screen
  • Now click on the ‘Environment Variables’ button
  • The new opened screen will have two boxes ‘User variable for user’ and ‘System variables’
  • Under the ‘System variables’ box, scroll down to find the ‘Path variable.’ (The Path variable is a list of folders separated by a semi-colon.)
  • On finding it, double-click it and open the ‘Edit System Variable’ box
  • Go to the very end of the text in the ‘Variable value’ field and type semi colon (;) and then the path to your toolkit (here, C:\command-line.)
  • Save your changes by clicking on the ‘OK’ button
  • Now finally, close the System Control Panel to let the path configured.

After performing these steps, the path to your toolkit will get configured with your Windows path. Hence, whenever you require specifying the path for any command-line tool, you need not to type it completely. You will have to type just the program name, and your system will automatically extract the path environment by referring to the Windows path.

For example, if you want to use the command ‘program.exe’ that you have saved in C/command-line then you have simply type C:\command-line\program.exe on the command-line box. But after performing the aforementioned configuration, just type ‘program.exe’ and your system will automatically pull it as C:\command-line\program.exe.

However, your computer will do the same only for those command line programs that you have saved under C:\command-line folder. Hence, it is important that you make it a point to save all your programs for command-line tools in a common folder and use it as your toolkit.

About the Author: Brooke M. Perry is an ardent technician associated with Qresolve computer virus removal with wide experience of fixing issues with PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones. With a strong track record of devising effective ways of internet security and system security, she has so far helped thousands of users across the globe

About the Author

Brooke M. Perry is an ardent technician associated with Qresolve computer security, with wide experience of fixing issues with PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones.

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Author: Brook Perry

Brook Perry

Member since: Oct 25, 2013
Published articles: 70

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