Program line. How to call the command line? Running the command line

Command Prompt is a must-have feature for every Windows. Any user has encountered it at least once in one case or another. Sometimes the command line is necessary for the user himself to make certain changes to the operation of the computer. In this article you will learn about Windows 10.

What is it?

Let's figure out the purpose. The command line is a standard Windows program for entering commands without using windows and operating system controls. The program is a window with a text interface and a field for entering characters. Supports only Latin letters and Arabic numerals. You will not be able to type a command in Russian letters. The functionality of the program is simply enormous. Using commands, you can open various files if you do not have access to Explorer, change registry settings, and much more. Let's figure out how to open the command line in Windows 10. There are two simple ways to do this. They are slightly different from previous versions of Windows, but the essence remains the same.

Start Menu

Let's figure out how to open the command line in Windows 10. Click on the Start menu icon at the bottom left. Next, click on the “All Applications” tab. Among all programs, find the “Service” sub-item. It contains the necessary program. You can launch CMD with one left click of the mouse. Some commands will require administrative access. Let's figure out how this can be done.

Find the program in the list of utility programs using the method described above. Using the right mouse button, open the file as administrator.

The next method is also related to the Start panel. In older versions of Windows, you had to go to the menu and select Run. In the “ten” everything is much simpler. To start, click on the magnifying glass icon next to "Start". In the search bar, type a combination of English letters cmd. The search will return the desired program. Click on the command line with the left mouse button.

How to open the command line in Windows 10 using Explorer

With the updated version of the OS, you can use new features in File Explorer. Open the desired folder. In the line at the top of the window, click on the “File” item, then select the item associated with the command line. Next, you can choose the normal launch option or opening with administrator rights. In the window that opens, you can apply commands to the folder opened in Explorer. Now you know how to quickly open the command line in Windows 10.

Another method

You can also open the program by following the specified path in the system folder. You need to go to the Windows partition on the system disk (the partition with the installed operating system). Next, find the System32 folder. It contains the required cmd.exe file. This path is suitable for 32-bit OS versions. In the SysWOW64 folder in the 64-bit version there is the Windows 10 command line. You know how to call (open) the application, all that remains is to use its functionality for its intended purpose, using special commands.

The command shell is a separate software product that provides direct communication between the user and the operating system. The command line text user interface provides an environment in which to run text-based applications and utilities. In the command shell, programs are executed and the execution result is displayed on the screen.

The Windows command shell uses a command interpreter cmd.exe, which loads applications and directs the flow of data between applications to translate the entered command into a form understandable to the system. The command line console is present in all versions of Windows operating systems. The difference between working from the command line is the complete absence of large and cumbersome graphical utilities.

How to open the command line

The command line is the cmd.exe application and can be launched in the following ways:

  1. Start -> All programs -> Standard -> Command line.
  2. Start -> Execute and enter the program name cmd.exe

    In order to go to the desired directory, you need to use the command CD. For example, if you need to run a program ExifPilot.exe, which is in the directory C:\Program Files\Exif Pilot, then you need to run the command cd C:\Program Files\Exif Pilot. You can do the same by changing directories one by one and calling the command one by one CD.

    So, the next set of commands is similar to the previous one.
    cd c:\Program Files
    cd Exif Pilot

    To print the contents of a folder, just type the command dir. It is possible to redirect the stream output by the program directly to a text file for further processing. To do this you need to use a control character ">" and the name of the text file, for example dir > report.txt.

  3. In order not to manually navigate to the desired directory, you can use some file manager. First you need to go to the desired directory in the file manager and call cmd.exe from the manager's command console.
    You can use file managers such as Total Commander, FAR Manager, 2xExplorer, EF Commander, Speed ​​Commander etc.
    You can find out more about file managers.

How to pass command line parameters to the called application

Each application that supports the command line has a special set of commands that the program can process. Command parameters can have a variety of formats. To pass parameters to the program, you must enter the application name and command parameters on the command line. After clicking Enter The application will launch with the entered commands.
For example, program.exe /print c:\doc\1.txt. The result of the command will be to print the file doc\1.txt.

Customizing the Command Prompt Window

To configure the command line, follow these steps:

  1. Open a command prompt window.
  2. Click the upper left corner of the window and select the command Properties.
  3. Select a tab General.
  4. In the area Remembering commands select or enter a value 999 in the field Buffer size, and then select or enter a value 5 in the field Number of buffers.
  5. In the area Editing check the boxes Selection And Quick insert.
  6. Select a tab Location.
  7. In the area Buffer size screen, enter or select a value 2500 in the field Height.
  8. Do one of the following as you choose:

    - In the area Screen Buffer Size Width.
    - In the area Window size increase the parameter value Height.
    - In the area Window size increase the parameter value Width.

  9. Uncheck Automatic selection, and then in the area Window position change field values Left edge And Top edge.
  10. In the dialog box Changing Properties select an option Save properties for other windows with the same name.

Notes:

  • To open a window Properties -> Command Line using the keyboard, press the keys ALT+SPACEBAR +Y.
  • Checkbox Mouse selection Allows you to copy and paste data in a command prompt window. To copy, left-click the text in the command line window and right-click. To paste into a command line or text file, right-click.
  • Increasing the screen buffer size to 999 allows scrolling in the Command Prompt window.
  • Increasing the number of buffers to five increases the number of lines in the Command Prompt window to 5000.

Editing text in the command prompt window

To copy and paste text into a command prompt window, use common Windows keyboard shortcuts such as Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, will not work.

To extract text from the clipboard you will have to bring up the menu by right-clicking on the window title and select submenu Change. Or just right-click on the window.

To copy text from the window select the item Flag and use the mouse to select the desired text. Then either click Enter, or in the same menu select Copy. If you need to paste some text into the command line window, refer to the command Insert.

To re-execute a command use the arrows "up" And "down", allowing you to navigate through the list of executed commands. To clear the screen of text, use the directive cls.

How to close the command prompt window

To close the command line console, you need to run the command exit.
There are many commands and utilities in modern operating systems. It is very difficult to remember so many different programs, and even more so their parameters, so one of the most important parameters for each program is the combination of symbols "/?" . After executing a command with this parameter, the user will receive a comprehensive message about the use of the utility and the syntax of its parameters. For example, by typing on the command line cmd /?, you can view information about the team cmd.

Many people think that working with the command line is only for programmers. This is wrong. An ordinary computer user may also need to access this software product.

The command line “connects” you and the operating system of your equipment. By entering certain commands, you can perform various utility tasks. Only the administrator has full rights to perform a number of actions, so it is recommended to run the command console on his behalf. Visually, this application is a black field with a blinking cursor. How to call the command line?

How to open the command line: Start menu

The most common way to access the string is through the Start menu. It is important to note that to open the command console, it is not enough to simply click on it with the mouse. If you want to be able to set any commands, launch the application as an administrator. To do this, right-click on the “Command Prompt” icon and select “Run as administrator” from the drop-down list.

Standard programs

  • Click on the “Start” button.
  • In the window that appears, select “All programs”.
  • Next, find the “Standard” folder.
  • Click on “Command Prompt” (right click).

Search string

  • Go to the Start menu.
  • In the search bar, which is located at the bottom of the table that opens, write “cmd”.
  • Press the Enter key.
  • Right-click on the “Command Prompt” item.

If the search bar is not displayed in the Start menu, open it and simultaneously press the Win and R keys. A line will appear in which you enter “cmd” and click the “Ok” button. With only one caveat - with this method of calling, the command console will start immediately and will be deprived of administrator rights.


How to open the command line: context menu of any folder

From your desktop, you can launch cmd.exe without going to the Start menu.

  • Hold down the Shift key and right-click on any folder.
  • In the drop-down list, select the “Open command window” item.
  • Choose it.
  • The command line appears on the screen (a black window-box with a blinking cursor).


How to open the command line: Windows 8.1

If you are a Windows 8 user, then the implementation of the proposed options will be slightly different.

1 way

  • Open the Charms Bar. To do this, you need to move the mouse cursor to the right side of the screen or type the combination Windows + C from the keyboard.
  • Click the search icon.
  • In the line that appears, write “command line” or “cmd”.
  • Next, right-click on the desired icon - “Run as administrator.”


Method 2

  • Open “All applications” (analogous to “All programs” in previous versions of the OS). To do this, press the Ctrl + Tab key combination or right-click on any free space on the screen and select “All applications”.
  • In the list that appears, find the “Command Line” icon.
  • Click on it with the mouse (right click) and stop at the “Run as administrator” item.


3 way

  • Windows 8.1 allows you to return the interface to its “familiar” appearance. In the lower left corner, right-click on the square icon. In the list that appears, select “Desktop”. This gives the desktop a classic look.
  • Press the “Start” button (or the Windows + X key combination) and type “command line”.
  • Or go to the Windows system directory – System32. Find the cmd application. Right-click on its icon and select “Run as administrator” from the list that appears.


The time comes and a PC user is faced with a situation when it is vital to execute various commands in the Windows system. To perform such manipulations, the good old command line is used, otherwise it is also called the console. Well, let's take a closer look at what this thing is.

The command line (console) is a utility that provides the user with access to the operating system by entering commands. As a rule, the command line is used by advanced users, but we hope that thanks to this article, a novice user will be able to easily set the desired command and at the same time save time. The console is a black dialog box with a continuously blinking cursor, and these commands are actually written into it.

And now, from talking directly, let’s get down to business and find where the command line in Windows 7 is hidden and how to get to it.

There are many options for calling the command line, let's focus on the main ones.

1. Using the Run dialog box.


Note: It is much easier to open the Run window using the Windows + R shortcut.

2. Via the main menu of the “Start” button.


Also, after activating the menu through “Start”, you can enter the phrase “command line” in the search bar, which will lead to the appearance of a shortcut, activate it by clicking the mouse and see “Command Prompt”.

3. Using the folder's context menu.


4. The Command Line utility is located in the Windows folder.

To find it there you need to go through this simple path: Drive “C”, then go to the “Windows” folder, in it go to “System32”, and in it we find a file called “cmd.exe”. By running it we will open the command line.

Sometimes, to perform certain actions, the system will ask you to open a command prompt with administrator rights, to do this, in the second option described above, use the right functional mouse button, and click on the “Command Prompt” entry, from the list that appears, select “Run as administrator” "

Where is the command line in Windows 8? Looking for...

1. Launch via the Run dialog box.


2. Using the Windows and X keys.


The same menu will appear when you right-click on the mouse in the “Start” button.

3. Using search.


4. Click the “Start” button:


5. Using the Explorer menu.


6. Using the task manager.


How to open the command line in Windows 10?

As for the Windows 10 operating system, here, calling the command line performs a number of actions similar to the actions in Windows 8, which we discussed above.


Many years have passed since the Mircosoft corporation successfully launched in the computer market and several generations have known practically nothing about the command line. The main features of older versions of Windows, which were called MS DOS, were single-tasking and an exclusively text-based interface. Several decades later, most actions are performed using the mouse, but in the past, in order to perform the simplest operations, you needed to know and understand a huge number of console commands. From those times, UNIX systems such as Ulbuntu, Fedora, ArchLinux and others have come to our time, where text commands are still used.

Despite the twenty-first century, modern operating systems have retained the console and commands. This function is not popular among regular users, so in order to launch the command line (cmd.exe) you need to understand a couple of simple tricks.

Opening the console via the "Run" button.

All old and new Windows operating systems have a Run function that gives instant access to the hidden capabilities of your computer. To run this program, you should open the Start menu, go to the Standard tab and select the Run button from the list that opens below. You can also launch the Run program using the key combination WIN + R, after which a small window will open in front of you with only input fields, where we type the following command cmd.exe and click OK. By the way, this method only works in Windows 7,8,10.

Using the Start menu.

You can also follow the steps above to launch the console, but instead of Run, select Command Prompt. In addition, you can use the search in the Start menu. But owners of Windows 8 OS will have to work a little to open the console, since the interface in this version of the operating system has undergone enormous changes.

First, we enter METRO, in other words, the new version of the Start menu. Right-click on an empty area, after which a panel with additional options will open at the bottom of the screen. Next, select the icon that says All applications, located in the lower right corner.

Here you will see a list with hidden applications, where a command line shortcut will also be located, right-click on it and select Run as administrator in the bottom panel.

In the latest version of Windows 10, to open the console, you can use a simple search; to do this, use the hot keys WIN + S, and then enter the name of the program, Command Prompt.

System disk.

As shown above, the command line is opened using the executable file cmd.exe, as a result of which we can conclude that this file can also be found in one of the folders and run. All this is correct, this executable file is located in the Windows folder, in the System32 subdirectory.

Closed menu in Windows 8.10.

In the Windows 8 and Windows 10 operating systems, using the WIN+X hotkeys, you can open a menu hidden from users, which contains almost all system programs, like the command line.

Using the context menu in Windows 10 Explorer

The latest version of Microsoft's operating system has an unusual way to open the console. Having opened any folder, hold down the Shift key and right-click on a free area, after which a context menu with advanced options will pop up.

As shown above, the command line in Windows can be invoked using various methods. Many users will feel that a lot of attention has been paid to such a simple program as the console. Only experienced people will understand that cmd.exe is a powerful tool, thanks to which you can produce any result in a matter of seconds. The developers of the latest operating systems not only did not abandon this function, but rather expanded its capabilities, which indicates the importance of this program.