Where is the "Command Line"

June 11, 2007 2:47 PM

I'm not so good with the computer. The info on a program I want to run says: "Run from the Command Line." What is a command line, and how do I find this mythical place?

I tried clicking "Start" --> "Run" . I though that the little box that popped up was the command line. But it didn't work. Is something else the command line? Thanks for any pointers! (Dang, I feel dumb.)

posted by wtfwjd? to computers & internet (14 comments total)

Try typing cmd into the Run box, then click OK. The black box that pops up is the command line. Enter your commands there, press Enter to execute the command. Type exit and press Enter to close the command line.
posted by odinsdream at 2:48 PM on June 11, 2007

Start>Programs>Accesories>Command Prompt
posted by wile e at 2:49 PM on June 11, 2007

It is the command line but you can only run one command at a time. When the command finishes, then window closes and you need to do Start -> Run again.

If you want to see the output of the command, then type "cmd" and press enter. You should then enter the command into the DOS prompt.

Use "exit" to close the window.
posted by mr_silver at 2:49 PM on June 11, 2007

Be careful with that thing. Command-line tools can be powerful hoodoo.
posted by box at 2:54 PM on June 11, 2007

If you're a lazy bum like I am, you can type "cmd /k " before whatever you really want to run (i.e. cmd /k ping metafilter.com). This really is mean to solve mr_silver's problem of the window closing, but it makes me happy saving the .8 seconds it takes to hit cmd <enter>
posted by niles at 2:57 PM on June 11, 2007

mean --> meant
posted by niles at 3:01 PM on June 11, 2007

Thanks! I got it to work. Hurah!
posted by wtfwjd? at 3:02 PM on June 11, 2007

In a "For Future generations" heads-up, the Mac "command line" can be reached by loading up Terminal, found in the Applications/Utilities folder.

Linux users should already know where their command line is. :-)
posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 3:19 PM on June 11, 2007

I'm a big advocate of better living through the command line. For example, it's much faster to type "firefox" than it is to click the start menu, click the programs, click the firefox group, then click the launcher.
posted by chrisamiller at 3:31 PM on June 11, 2007

it's much faster to type "firefox" than it is to click the start menu, click the programs, click the firefox group, then click the launcher.

..so I put a shortcut on the desktop and pinned it to the start menu...
posted by BitterOldPunk at 4:13 PM on June 11, 2007

niles sez: If you're a lazy bum like I am, you can type "cmd /k " before whatever you really want to run (i.e. cmd /k ping metafilter.com). This really is mean to solve mr_silver's problem of the window closing, but it makes me happy saving the .8 seconds it takes to hit cmd <enter>

niles, don't you waste a keystroke (no, two!) by typing "cmd /k" (6 keystrokes) instead of cmd <enter> (4 keystrokes)?
posted by misterbrandt at 4:14 PM on June 11, 2007

What is a command line

It's what was there in the beginning.
posted by Zed_Lopez at 4:21 PM on June 11, 2007 [2 favorites]

PS: call it the "shell" for instageek cred.
posted by davejay at 6:13 PM on June 11, 2007

misterbrandt: True. But I can usually type those 2 (wait, 3!) keystrokes faster than it takes for the command window to pop up.

It lets me sleep at night.
posted by niles at 5:28 PM on June 12, 2007