Path

The PATH command is used to provide access to files located in other directories or on other disks. The PATH command is usually entered as a line in an AUTOEXEC.BAT (or batch) file, which most often contains one or more DOS commands. The AUTOEXEC.BAT file is automatically executed upon system turn-on to run one or more desired programs without the need for user intervention. Other batch  files are executed upon command. When an AUTOEXEC.CAT file is used, each command contained in the file executes as it is encountered.

The creation and use of batch files is described in Section 8.

To illustrate the PATH command, assume you have a program named GATOR.COM that is located in a sub directory. You are not sure if it is cn disk C or disk A, so you want to search both disks and execute the command when found. To complicate matters, you are not sure if the

program is in the SWAMP sub directory or the MUD sub directory. Here is where the PATH command comes to your rescue. To set up a search for GATOR.COM, you can specify the disk and directories using the PATH command. While logged on disk C, assuming that you have a fixed disk system, enter the following command line from the DOS prompt.

                         PATH \SWAMP;\MUD;B: SWAMP;B:\MUD

When you type GATOR to run your program, DOS first searches the C:\SWAMP sub directory, then the C:\MUD sub directory. Next, it

searches the B: SWAMP sub directory. Finally, it searches the B:\MUD sub directory where GATOR.COM is found and executed.

You also can use the PATH command to display the path setup. To do this, type PATH and press Enter. A display similar to the following is displayed.

                                    C> PATH

                                             PATH=\SKAMP; \MUD;B: \SKAMP;2:\MUD

To cancel the path settings, type PATH; and press Enter. The semicolon is the critical agent in this PATH command. Now when you check your paths with the PATH command, the message "No Path" is displayed.