Understanding the Help Topic "Syntax"
On most help topics you will see something like this:
command required [optional] [/switch] [/A|/B]
Here is an explanation of the different parts of this line:
command
This is the name of the command.
required
Anything that follows the command name, which is not in
square brackets, [and], is a required parameter.
The command will report an error if you don't give this information.
[optional]
options are written in square brackets, [and]. These change the
way the command runs. The square brackets aren't meant
to be typed when the command is used.
[/switch]
Options that begin with a / are called switches. The / symbol is
actually typed when the switch is used.
[/A|/B]
When there is a | symbol, this means there is a choice between
two options. Either /A or /B is allowed, but not both.
The | isn't meant to be typed when the command is used.
See also:
switchar
switches
Copyright © 2003 - 2004 Robert Platt, updated 2023 by W. Spiegl.
This file is derived from the FreeDOS Spec Command HOWTO.
See the file H2Cpying for copying conditions.