A COMPARATIVE RESEARCH of MS-DOS COMMAND LINE AND UNIX VI FILE

EDITOR

ITEC110

BSIT-4E
Montano, Elizon R.
November 2022
 ABSTRACT

The present study seeks the comparison between MS-DOS command line and UNIX vi file
editor, whether the MS-DOS command line have the same syntax to UNIX vi command, and
whether they both have the same system infrastructure.
So basically, MS-DOS also known as Microsoft DOS is an operating system for x86-
based personal computers mostly developed by Microsoft. The DOS command prompt is a
representation of the Microsoft Disk Operating System command line interface. It is the basic and
necessary setting for the interface, where the prompt sets the stage for executing command line of
the code. IBM licensed and re-released it in 1981 as PC DOS 1.0 for use in its PC’s.
The UNIX Vi File Editor is a type of text editor that is available in the UNIX operating
system, and it is basically the default editor that comes with the UNIX operating system, which is
used to create a new file or editing an existing file, and offering a substantial user-friendly feature,
which available in almost all the UNIX distribution systems.
The primary distinction between UNIX and DOS is that UNIX was developed for systems
with many users, whereas DOS was initially designed for single-user systems.
 INTRODUCTION

The goal of this study is to compare the UNIX vi File Editor and the MS-DOS command
line. The aim of this study is to gather all available information on the subject, including
background knowledge and what the software applications can accomplish.

MS-DOS Command Line

The first widely used operating system for IBM-compatible personal computers was DOS
(Disk Operating System). DOS is a command-driven, non-graphical operating system for
computers. It has a user interface that is quite straightforward but not particularly "friendly."
The MS-DOS operating system served as the foundation for the earlier versions of the
Microsoft Windows operating system, which were essentially merely applications. Windows 95
and later still employ a DOS-like user interface known as the "MS-DOS Prompt" or "Command
Prompt" even though they no longer run-on top of DOS. Windows users can issue DOS
commands to the system through the command prompt.
Windows users can benefit from DOS commands in a variety of ways. By using DOS
commands, many things that may be completed in the Windows graphical environment can be
completed much more rapidly and effectively. Additionally, the majority of bootable floppy
disks will start the machine in a DOS environment.
DOS is a mono-spaced raster typeface with a font size that is comparable to Courier. This
type of font size was intended as an MS-DOS typeface and utilized cross zeros. Deltree is the
command used for external code, whereas Dir was used for internal code. Disk Operating System
(DOS) was used for personal computers before Windows had arrived. It is a single-command
operating system that cannot handle multiple commands. DOS can be used to access disk storage
devices, including optical disks, floppy disks, and hard disk drives. Operating disk drives help in
the organization of file systems for reading and writing to disk storage.

MS-DOS Command List

Below is a complete list of MS-DOS commands, commonly referred to as just DOS commands,
available as of MS-DOS 6.22: (Fisher, 2022).

MS-DOS Command List

Command Description
Append The append command can be used by
programs to open files in another directory as
 if they were located in the current directory.
Assign The assign command is used to redirect drive
requests to a different drive. This command
can also show drive assignments and reset
drive letters to their original assignments.
Attrib The attrib command  is used to change the
attributes of a single file or a directory.
Break The break command sets or clears extended
CTRL+C checking on DOS systems.
Append The append command can be used by
programs to open files in another directory as
if they were located in the current directory.
Call The call command is used to run a script or
batch program from within another script or
batch program. The call command has no
effect outside of a script or batch file. In
other words, running the call command at the
MS-DOS prompt will do nothing.
Cd The cd command is the shorthand version of
the chdir command.
Chcp The chcp command displays or configures
the active code page number.
Chdir The chdir command is used to display the
drive letter and folder that you are currently
in. Chdir can also be used to change the drive
and/or directory that you want to work in.
Chkdsk The chkdsk command , often referred to as
check disk, is used to identify and correct
certain hard drive errors.
Choice The choice command is used within a script
or batch program to provide a list of choices
and return the value of that choice to the
program.
Cls The cls command clears the screen of all
previously entered commands and other text.
Command The command command starts a new instance
of the command.com command interpreter.
Copy The copy command  copies one or more files
from one location to another.
Country The country command is used in the
CONFIG.SYS file to tell MS-DOS to use
country-specific text conventions during
processing.
Ctty The ctty command is used to change the
default input and output devices for the
system.
Date The date command is used to show or change
the current date.
Dblspace The dblspace command is used to create or
configure DoubleSpace compressed drives.
Debug The debug command starts Debug, a
command line application used to test and
edit programs.
Defrag The defrag command is used to defragment a
drive you specify. The defrag command is the
command line version of Microsoft's Disk
Defragmenter.
Del The del command  is used to delete one or
more files. The del command is the same as
the erase command.
Deltree The deltree command is used to delete a
directory and all the files and subdirectories
within it.
Device The device command is used in the
CONFIG.SYS file to load device drivers into
memory.
Devicehigh The devicehigh command is used in the
CONFIG.SYS file to load device drivers into
upper memory.
Dir The dir command is used to display a list of
files and folders contained inside the folder
that you are currently working in. The dir
command also displays other important
information like the hard drive's serial
number, the total number of files listed, their
combined size, the total amount of free space
left on the drive, and more.
Diskcomp The diskcomp command is used to compare
the contents of two floppy disks.
Diskcopy The diskcopy command is used to copy the
entire contents of one floppy disk to another.
Dos The dos command is used in the
CONFIG.SYS file to specify the memory
location for DOS.
Doskey The doskey command is used to edit
command lines, create macros, and recall
previously entered commands.
Dosshell The dosshell command starts DOS Shell, a
graphical file management tool for MS-DOS.
The dosshell command was only available up
to MS-DOS 6.0 but most MS-DOS 6.22
installations were upgrades from previous
versions so the dosshell command is usually
still available.
Drvspace The drvspace command is used to create or
configure DriveSpace compressed drives.
DriveSpace, executed using the drvspace
command, is an updated version of
DoubleSpace. DriveSpace is an updated
version of DoubleSpace, executed using the
 dblspace command.
Echo The echo command is used to show
messages, most commonly from within script
or batch files. The echo command can also be
used to turn the echoing feature on or off.
Edit The edit command starts the MS-DOS Editor
tool, which is used to create and modify text
files.
Edlin The edlin command starts the Edlin tool,
which is used to create and modify text files
from the command line. Edlin was only
available up to MS-DOS 5.0 so unless your
version of MS-DOS 6.22 was upgraded from
5.0, you likely won't see the edlin command.
Emm386 The emm386 command is used to give MS-
DOS access to more than 640 KB of memory.
Exe2bin The exe2bin command is used to
convert .EXE files to binary format.
Erase The erase command is used to delete one or
more files. The erase command is the same as
the del command.
Exit The exit command is used to end the
command.com session that you're currently
working in.
Expand The expand command is used to extract the
files and folders contained in Microsoft
Cabinet (CAB) files.
Fasthelp The fasthelp command provides more
detailed information on any of the other MS-
DOS commands.
Fastopen The fastopen command is used to add a
program's hard drive location to a special list
stored in memory, potentially improving the
program's launch time by removing the need
for MS-DOS to locate the application on the
drive.
Fc The fc command is used to compare two
individual or sets of files and then show the
differences between them.
Fcbs The fcbs command is used in the
CONFIG.SYS file to specify the number of
file-control blocks for file sharing.
Fdisk The fdisk command is used to create,
manage, and delete hard drive partitions .
Files The files command is used in the
CONFIG.SYS file to specify the maximum
number of files that can be open at the same
time.
Find The find command is used to search for a
specified text string in one or more files.
For The for command is used to run a specified
command for each file in a set of files. The
for command is most often used within a
batch or script file.
Format The format command  is used to format a
drive in the file system that you specify.
Goto The goto command is used in a batch or
script file to direct the command process to a
labeled line in the script.
Graphics The graphics command is used to load a
program that can print graphics.
Help The help command  provides more detailed
information on any of the other Command
Prompt or MS-DOS commands.
If The if command is used to perform
conditional functions in a batch file.
Include The include command is used in the
CONFIG.SYS file to allow you to use the
commands from one CONFIG.SYS block
within another.
Install The install command is used in the
CONFIG.SYS file to load memory-resident
programs into conventional memory.
Interlnk The interlnk command is used to connect two
computers via a serial or parallel connection
to share files and printers.
Intersvr The intersvr command is used to start the
Interlnk server and to copy Interlnk files from
one computer to another.
Join The join command is used to attach a drive
letter to a directory located on another drive.
It's similar to the subst command which
associates a drive letter with a local directory.
Keyb The keyb command is used to configure a
keyboard for a specific language.
Label The label command is used to manage
the volume label of a disk.
Lastdrive The lastdrive command is used in the
CONFIG.SYS file to set the maximum
number of drives that can be accessed.
Lh The lh command is the shorthand version of
the loadhigh command.
Loadfix The loadfix command is used to load the
specified program in the first 64K of memory
and then runs the program.
Loadhigh The loadhigh command is used to load a
program into high memory and is usually
used from within the autoexec.bat file.
Md The md command is the shorthand version of
the mkdir command.
Mem The mem command shows information about
used and free memory areas and programs
that are currently loaded into memory in the
MS-DOS subsystem.
Memmaker The memmaker command is used to start
MemMaker, a memory optimization tool.
Menucolor The menucolor command is used in the
CONFIG.SYS file to set text colors.
Menudefault The menudefault command is used in the
CONFIG.SYS file to set the startup
configuration that will be used if no key is
pressed within the specified timeout period.
Menuitem The menuitem command is used in the
CONFIG.SYS file to create a startup menu
from which you can select a group of
CONFIG.SYS commands to be processed
upon reboot.
Mkdir The mkdir command is used to create a new
folder.
Mode The mode command is used to configure
system devices, most often COM and LPT
ports.
More The more command  is used to display the
information contained in a text file. The more
command can also be used to paginate the
results of any other Command Prompt or MS-
DOS command.
Move The move command is used to move one or
files from one folder to another. The move
command is also used to rename directories.
Msav The msav command starts Microsoft
Antivirus.
Msbackup The msbackup command starts Microsoft
Backup, a tool used to back up and restore
one or more files.
Mscdex The mscdex command is used to provide CD-
ROM access to MS-DOS.
Msd The msd command starts Microsoft
Diagnostics, a tool used to display
information about your computer.
Nlsfunc The nlsfunc command is used to load
information specific to a particular country or
region.
Numlock The numlock command is used in the
CONFIG.SYS file to specify the state of the
NumLock key.
Path The path command is used to display or set a
specific path available to executable files.
Pause The pause command is used within a batch or
script file to pause the processing of the file.
 When the pause command is used, a "Press
any key to continue…" message displays in
the command window.
Power The power command is used to reduce the
power consumed by a computer by
monitoring software and hardware devices.
Print The print command is used to print a
specified text file to a specified printing
device.
Prompt The prompt command is used to customize
the appearance of the prompt text in
Command Prompt or MS-DOS.
Qbasic The qbasic command starts QBasic, the MS-
DOS based programming environment for the
BASIC programming language.
Rd The rd command is the shorthand version of
the rmdir command.
Rem The rem command is used to record
comments or remarks in a batch or script file.
Ren The ren command is the shorthand version of
the rename command.
Rename The rename command is used to change the
name of the individual file that you specify.
Replace The replace command is used to replace one
or more files with one or more other files.
Restore The restore command is used to restore files
that were backed up using the backup
command. The backup command was only
available up to MS-DOS 5.00 but the restore
command was included by default with later
versions of MS-DOS to provide a way to
restore files that were backed up in previous
versions of MS-DOS.
Rmdir The rmdir command is used to delete an
existing or completely empty folder.
Scandisk The scandisk command is used to start
Microsoft ScanDisk, a disk repair program.
Set The set command is used to display, enable,
or disable environment variables  in MS-DOS
or from the Command Prompt.
Setver The setver command is used to set the MS-
DOS version number that MS-DOS reports to
a program.
Share The share command is used to install file
locking and file sharing functions in MS-
DOS.
Shell The shell command is used in the
CONFIG.SYS file to specify the command
interpreter that DOS should use.
Shift The shift command is used to change the
 position of replaceable parameters in a batch
or script file.
Smartdrv The smartdrv command installs and
configures SMARTDrive, a disk caching
utility for MS-DOS.
Sort The sort command is used to read data from a
specified input, sort that data, and return the
results of that sort to the Command Prompt
screen, a file, or another output device.
Stacks The stacks command is used in the
CONFIG.SYS file to set the number and size
of stack frames.
Submenu The submenu command is used in the
CONFIG.SYS file to create a multi-level
menu from which you can select startup
options.
Subst The subst command is used to associate a
local path with a drive letter. The subst
command is a lot like the net use command  in
Windows except a local path is used instead
of a shared network path. The subst
command replaced the assign command
beginning with MS-DOS 6.0.
Switches The switches command is used in the
CONFIG.SYS file to configure DOS in a
special way, like to tell DOS to emulate
different hardware configurations.
Sys The sys command is used to copy the MS-
DOS system files and command interpreter to
a disk. The sys command is used most often
to create a simple bootable disk or hard drive.
Time The time command is used to show or change
the current time.
Tree The tree command is used to graphically
display the folder structure of a specified
drive or path.
Type The type command is used to display the
information contained in a text file.
Undelete The undelete command is used to undo a
deletion performed with the MS-DOS delete
command.
Unformat The unformat command is used to undo the
formatting on a drive performed by the MS-
DOS format command.
Ver The ver command is used to display the
current MS-DOS version number.
Verify The verify command is used to enable or
disable the ability of Command Prompt, or
MS-DOS, to verify that files are written
correctly to a disk.
 Vol The vol command shows the volume label
and a serial number of a specified disk,
assuming this information exists.
Vsafe The vsafe command is used to start VSafe, a
basic virus protection system for MS-DOS.
Xcopy The xcopy command  can copy one or more
files or directory trees from one location to
another. The xcopy command is generally
considered a more "powerful" version of the
copy command though the robocopy
command trumps even xcopy.

UNIX vi File Editor

The most well-known and traditional text editor for Linux is the VI editor. Here are some
factors that contribute to its popularity as an editor:

1. Almost all Linux Distributions offer it.

2. It functions the same way on all platforms and Distributions.
3. It is easy to use. Consequently, it is adored and used for editing by millions of Linux users.

The most widely used version of the vi editor in use today is VIM, which stands for Vi
Improved. The others include Vile, Nvi, Elvis, and Nvi. Vi has a ton of features and provides
countless options for editing files, so learning it is a good idea (Brent, 2022).

Multiple processors are supported by the operating system UNIX. The original AT&T
UNIX system, which was created and developed in the nineteenth century, served as the basis
for UNIX. FreeBSD, Brian Kernighan, Nokia Bell Labs, Douglas Mcllroy, Ken Thomson,
Dennis Ritchie, and Joe Ossanna all contributed to the development of the UNIX operating
system. There are two UNIX OS versions: Plan 9 and Linux.
The UNIX OS was created using the C and Assembly languages, and it was awarded the
Turning Award after its initial release on November 3, 1971. Servers are used by UNIX OS to
manage medium- to large-sized computer systems. Application servers and database servers are
the types of servers used with the UNIX operating system. SUN, IBM, HP, and other
manufacturers are among the servers.
A versatile operating system, UNIX can be installed on servers, laptops, and desktop
computers. The end-of-line system in UNIX is abbreviated as ("/n"). Environment variables are
a component of UNIX, some of which are set by the system. Some variables are under user
control, while others are under shell and program control. A regular expression with the
characters in the
 text's sequence could be found in the UNIX operating system. Features for multitasking and
multiple users are present in the UNIX operating system.
A graphical user interface similar to Windows is available in UNIX. UNICS, which stands
for UNiplexed Information Computing System, is the acronym for UNIX. It started developing
programming in the 1960s, and by 1971, it was running. For some businesses, the UNIX
operating system has been extensively used in difficult, crucial applications. The UNIX OS is
preferred by Data Enterprise Center.

VI Shortcuts

The best way to learn Vi is to create a new file and try it out for yourself. Feel free to use
the common keyboard shortcut list below to help you learn Vi’s extensive vocabulary. This list of
shortcuts is by no means exhaustive, but they will enable you to edit files and learn Vi in a short
amount of time (Hess, 2019).

 $ vi <filename> — Open or edit a file.

 i — Switch to Insert mode.
 Esc — Switch to Command mode.
 :w — Save and continue editing.
 :wq or ZZ — Save and quit/exit vi.
 :q! — Quit vi and do not save changes.
 yy — Yank (copy) a line of text.
 p — Paste a line of yanked text below the current line.
 o — Open a new line under the current line.
 O — Open a new line above the current line.
 A — Append to the end of the line.
 a — Append after the cursor’s current position.
 I — Insert text at the beginning of the current line.
 b — Go to the beginning of the word.
 e — Go to the end of the word.
 x — Delete a single character.
 dd — Delete an entire line.
 Xdd — Delete X number of lines.
 Xyy — Yank X number of lines.
  G — Go to the last line in a file.
 XG — Go to line X in a file.
 gg — Go to the first line in a file.
 :num — Display the current line’s line number.
 h — Move left one character.
 j — Move down one line.
 k — Move up one line.
 l — Move right one character.

Key differences between the DOS and UNIX operating system

There are various main differences between the DOS and UNIX operating systems. Some
of the main differences between the DOS and UNIX operating systems are as follows:

1. DOS is an operating system that is only used in x86-based computers. On the other hand,
UNIX is an operating system that is used in all types of computers.
2. DOS is a single command-line system. On the other hand, UNIX operating system is a
multitasking, multiuser system.
3. DOS was firstly released in 1981. On the other hand, the UNIX operating system was
firstly released in November 1971.
4. DOS operates from a hard disk device. On the other hand, the UNIX operating system was
installed after being obtained from the original AT&T UNIX.
5. DOS contains three proprietary versions (MS-DOS, IBM DOS, and DR-DOS) and one
free version (FreeDOS). On the other hand, UNIX operating system has numerous
proprietary and free/open-source implementations.
6. DOS is an abbreviation for Disk Operating System. On the other hand, UNIX operating
system is an abbreviation for UNiplexed Information Computing System.
7. DOS has no native support for IP networks. On the other hand, UNIX operating system
comes with built-in support for IP networks.
8. DOS contains batch files. On the other hand, UNIX operating system contains shell files.
Head-to-head comparison between the DOS and UNIX operating system

There are various head-to-head comparisons between the DOS and UNIX operating
systems. Some of the main head-to-head comparisons of the DOS and UNIX operating systems
are as follows:

DOS UNIX
It is only used in x86-based computer It is used in all types of computer systems.
systems.
It is a single command-line OS. It is a multitasking OS.
It was firstly released in 1981. It was firstly released in November 1971.
It is an abbreviation for Disk Operating It is an abbreviation for UNiplexed
System. Information Computing System.
Disk operating system consumes low power. UNIX operating system consumes high power
DOS is not case-sensitive. UNIX OS is case-sensitive.
Disk operating system uses the backslashes. UNIX operating system uses forward slashes.
It operates from a hard disk device. It was installed after being obtained from the
original AT&T UNIX.
DOS contains batch files. UNIX operating system contains shell files.
DOS contains three proprietary versions (IBM UNIX operating system contains numerous
DOS, MS-DOS, and DR-DOS) and one free proprietary and free, and open-source
version (FreeDOS). implementations.
It is mainly used in embedded systems. UNIX operating system is mainly used in
servers.
DOS has neither virtual memory nor UNIX operating system usually has virtual
protected memory. memory and protected memory.
UNIX and DOS commands

Operating systems were managed by commands in the past, before Microsoft Windows
dominated the PC market. These commands had to be learned in order to be used by PC users. In
contrast to the early UNIX command systems, which were employed on bigger multi-processing
servers during this time, Microsoft DOS dominated the PC market. The primary distinction
between UNIX and DOS is that UNIX was developed for systems with many users, whereas DOS
was initially designed for single-user systems.
UNIX systems have never developed into GUI environments, although PCs have, such as
with Windows. Thus, in order to maintain their Oracle databases, the Oracle specialist must know
a staggering array of obscure UNIX commands.
Being presented with an intricate UNIX command is one of the most perplexing situations
for a UNIX beginner. Even the most seasoned UNIX expert might have problems figuring out the
meaning of the command due to UNIX's obscure nature (Burleson, 2015).
 Figure 1. Comparison between MS-DOS command and UNIX
command.
 Figure 1 Comparison between MS-DOS command and UNIX command were developed
at the same time so they share some common syntax, and the UNIX neophyte will be happy to
find many common commands and concepts.

Conclusion
You now understand how the disk and UNIX operating systems differ from one another.
Although the operating systems for disks and UNIX are distinct from one another, they share
similar command syntax. Disk operating systems are mostly utilized in X86-based processor
systems and embedded devices. In contrast, all servers and computer systems run the UNIX
operating system. The Disk operating system is a single-processing system, which is the other
distinction. The UNIX operating system, on the other hand, is a multiprocessing system.
 REFERENCES

Brent, M. (2022, August 27). VI Editor with Commands in Linux/Unix Tutorial. Guru99.
Retrieved October 26, 2022, from https://www.guru99.com/the-vi-editor.html

Burleson, D. (2015, January. 10). Windows DOS vs. UNIX commands. Dba-oracle.
Retrieved November 6, 2022, from
http://www.dba-oracle.com/t_windows_dos_unix_linux_commands.html

Fisher, T. (2022, Sept. 25). The Ultimate, Complete List of MS-DOS Commands. Lifewire.
Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.lifewire.com/dos-commands-
4070427

Hess, K. (2019, August. 20). An introduction to the vi editor. Redhat. Retrieved November
6, 2022, from https://www.redhat.com/sysadmin/introduction-vi-
editor#:~:text=The%20Vi%20editor%20has%20two,enter%20Insert%20mode
%2C%20press%20i%20.html

Javatpoint. (2022, November). Difference between DOS and UNIX. Javatpoint. Retrieved
November 6, 2022, from https://www.javatpoint.com/dos-vs-unix#:~:text=DOS
%20is%20an%20operating%20system,is%20a%20multitasking%2C%20multiuser
%20system.html