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Edit

Starts MS-DOS Editor, which creates and changes ASCII text files. Used without parameters, edit starts MS-DOS Editor.

Syntax

edit [[Drive**:][Path] FileName] [/b**] [/g] [/h] [/nohi]

Parameters

[ Drive : ][ Path ] FileName   : Specifies the location and name of an ASCII text file. If the file does not exist, MS-DOS Editor creates it. If the file exists, MS-DOS Editor opens it and displays its contents on the screen.

/b   : Displays MS-DOS Editor in black and white. Use this command-line option if a monochrome monitor does not display MS-DOS Editor correctly.

/g   : Uses the fastest screen updating possible for a CGA monitor.

/h   : Displays the maximum number of lines possible for the current monitor.

/nohi   : Enables you to use eight-color monitors with MS-DOS Editor. Typically, Windows XP uses 16 colors.

/? : Displays help at the command prompt.

Remarks

  • Windows XP does not use this command. It is accepted only for compatibility with MS-DOS files. 

  • Some monitors might not support the display of shortcut keys by default. If your monitor does not display shortcut keys, use /b (for CGA monitors) and /nohi (for systems that do not support bold characters).

Formatting legend

Format

Meaning

Italic

Information that the user must supply

Bold

Elements that the user must type exactly as shown

Ellipsis (...)

Parameter that can be repeated several times in a command line

Between brackets ([])

Optional items

Between braces ({}); choices separated by pipe (|). Example: {even|odd}

Set of choices from which the user must choose only one

Courier font

Code or program output

Command-line reference A-Z

Command shell overview