Cammand Line auto-complete

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I've just come across this great tip. Paste the following lines into a cammand console to turn on auto-complete using the tab key at the command prompt. For instance if you're at c:\ and want to cd into the Program files directory then type cd pro then press tab and it will complete the Program Files bit for you.

reg add "hklm\software\microsoft\command processor" /v CompletionChar /t REG_DWORD /d 0x9 /f
reg add "hklm\software\microsoft\command processor" /v PathCompletionChar /t REG_DWORD /d 0x9 /f

I've tested this on XP and it works a treat, apparently you need to use * instead of Tab on Windows 2000

Phil

 

Nice. You can use autocomplete on the command line with both Linux and on Cisco switches and routers. Good for those pesky commands that you *almost* remember.

 

erm..... guys??????

im using xp home, and haven't put either of those commands in (unless they are already there) - and ive been able to do it since.... wel.... forever!

Fergal

 

strange indeed.

 

Well I have never used autocomplete with any command line interpreter before but I thought I would test this out to see.

I am using W2K Pro and did not enter the registry lines above, yet it does work How strange? I am not sure as to how useful it is though because it does seem a bit hit and miss, as to what the autocomplete pulls up. For example CD M* takes you to My Music when I wanted to switch to My Documents. Is there an explanation somewhere that gives more instruction on how to use these short cuts?

Pete

 

if you put in so little detail, the system will autoselect the first option alphabetically. keep pressing tab to cycle through the option, or input more detail!

 

Drat, I just lost my long post

Oh well, now where was I?

I was saying thanks Fergal for the help but with W2K you can't use the tab in that fashion, you have to append an * to the end of the line. It works well, that is to say in a more predicatble fashion if the directory name doesn't contain spaces. Possibly XP deals with this issue in a better way?

There doesn't seem to be a way of tabbing through the possible selections because entering another * just brings up the olde command not recognised message.

Cheers,

Pete

 

Nice one Phil

Whilst trying to get a little more info on these registry settings I came accross this page.
(Possibly where this tip originally came from?)

http://www.mcpmag.com/columns/print.asp?EditorialsID=802

It might be worth a read as it gives 1 or 2 other tips that might also come in usefull.

 

Cheers Taz, that's a great link. I didn't know you could fiddle with the properties of the DOS window and make it larger etc. I found that to be somewhat cool

Pete