Batch Script Alias
Batch Script Alias
Alias means creating shortcuts or keywords for existing commands.
Suppose we want to run the following command, which is nothing more than the directory list command with the /w option to not show all the necessary details in a directory list.
dir /w
Suppose if we were to create a shortcut to this command as follows.
dw = dir /w
When we want to execute the dir /w command, we can simply type in the word dw. The word dw has now become an alias to the command dir /w.
Creating an Alias
Alias are managed by using the doskey command.
doskey [options] [macroname=[text]]
where
macroname: a short name for the macro.text: the commands you want to recall.
Following are the description of the options which can be presented to the doskey command.
| Options | Description |
|---|---|
/reinstall | Installs a new copy of Doskey |
/listsize = size | Sets size of command history buffer. |
/macros | Displays all Doskey macros. |
/macros:all | Displays all Doskey macros for all executables which have Doskey macros. |
/macros:exename | Displays all Doskey macros for the given executable. |
/history | Displays all commands stored in memory. |
/insert | Specifies that new text you type is inserted in old text. |
/overstrike | Specifies that new text overwrites old text. |
/exename = exename | Specifies the executable. |
/macrofile = filename | Specifies a file of macros to install. |
macroname | Specifies a name for a macro you create. |
text | Specifies commands you want to record. |
Example
Create a new file called keys.bat and enter the following commands in the file. The below commands creates two aliases, one if for the cd command, which automatically goes to the directory called test. And the other is for the dir command.
@echo off
doskey cd = cd/test
doskey d = dir
Once the command is executed, you will be able to run these aliases in the command prompt.
Deleting an Alias
An alias or macro can be eliminated by setting the value of the macro to NULL.
Example
In the following example, we are first setting the macro d to d = dir. After which we are setting it to NULL. Because we have set the value of d to NULL, the macro d will be deleted.
@echo off
doskey cd = cd/test
doskey d = dir
d=
Replacing an Alias
An alias or macro can be replaced by setting the value of the macro to the new desired value.
Example
In the above example, we are first setting the macro d to d = dir. After which we are setting it to dir /w. Since we have set the value of d to a new value, the alias d will now take on the new value.
@echo off
doskey cd = cd/test
doskey d = dir
d = dir /w