OmniTurn CNC's use the DOS operating system for maximum processing speed and flexibility.
This page describes a few useful DOS commands.
If you want more detailed explanations, go to Computer Hope DOS Top Ten for a list of most commonly used DOS commands, or Computer Hope DOS and Windows command line commands for an exhaustive list of DOS commands and their usage.
NOTE: DOS file location terminology can be confusing primarily because "folders" are called "directories". Folders in a folder are also called folders, but directories below a directory are called "sub-directories". Plus, the directory structure is called a "tree", but the "root" is at the top, not the bottom, and all directories and sub-directories are said to be "below" or "down".
For clarity, this document will use "folder" for directory and sub-directory.
"Root" is the drive itself, ie C:\ or D:\.
Note the "\" backslash; this is NOT the one under the question mark.
To log onto any drive you must type the drive letter followed by a colon(:), (e.g. A: C: D:), then press Enter.
Also note that to execute any command, you must press Enter.
CD is the command used to navigate from one folder to another, or to the root.
The safest way to copy files is to use CD to navigate to the folder where you want the files to be copied to.
This is even more important when
deleting files.
DIR is the command used to display information about files and folders within the current folder. DIR displays the name, size, and last modification time of every file in the current folder, and how much overall disk space is available.
The overall disk space available is useful to determine if your OmniTurn is booting off the hard drive, or off the floppy emulator or thumb drive. If booting off floppy, the overall space will be about 1.4MB. If booting off the thumb drive, about 2GB, or 2,000,000,000 bytes free. If booting off the hard drive, about 8,000 Mega bytes free.
DIR will display a list of the files in the current directory, and the overall disk space available. However, it may display only the last 20 files in the folder, plus the overall disk space, because more than about 20 files will scroll off the top of the screen. To display the list of files one page at a time, use DIR /P (note forward slash, called 'switch'; this IS the one under the question mark).
Example:DR is not a true DOS command, but it is a useful DOS utility that is installed in every OmniTurn.
It is like DIR, but it displays a list of files in in the folder in alphabetical order. Using the arrow keys, you can scroll though the entire list
DR also allows you to read the contents of any file by pressing Enter when the file name is highlighted. Navigate to file names by first letter (or number) in the file name, or by using the arrow keys.
Example:COPY allows you to copy a file from one location to another. You can also copy a file to the same location with a different name.
For OmniTurn users, COPY is most useful for copying program files from a thumb drive (or USB floppy emulator) to the hard drive, or for copying a program with a different name, to be edited later.
NOTE: This function is available the OmniTurn file handler, and in the OmniTurn editor.
Examples:NOTE: DOS file names are limited to eight characters, letters and/or numbers.
REN allows you to rename a file.
NOTE: This function is available the OmniTurn file handler, and in the OmniTurn editor.
Example:DEL allows you to delete a file. This command cannot be undone!
NOTE: This function is available the OmniTurn file handler, and in the OmniTurn editor.
Example: