coming_from_cmd.md

Coming from CMD.EXE

This table was last updated for Nu 0.67.0.

CMD.EXE	Nu	Task
ASSOC		Displays or modifies file extension associations
BREAK		Trigger debugger breakpoint
CALL <filename.bat>	<filename.bat>	Run a batch program
	nu <filename>	Run a nu script in a fresh context
	source <filename>	Run a nu script in this context
	use <filename>	Run a nu script as a module
CD or CHDIR	$env.PWD	Get the present working directory
CD <directory>	cd <directory>	Change the current directory
CD /D <drive:directory>	cd <drive:directory>	Change the current directory
CLS	clear	Clear the screen
COLOR		Set the console default foreground/background colors
	ansi {flags} (code)	Output ANSI codes to change color
COPY <source> <destination>	cp <source> <destination>	Copy files
COPY <file1>+<file2> <destination>	[<file1>, <file2>] | each { open --raw } | str join | save --raw <destination>	Append multiple files into one
DATE /T	date now	Get the current date
DATE		Set the date
DEL <file> or ERASE <file>	rm <file>	Delete files
DIR	ls	List files in the current directory
ECHO <message>	print <message>	Print the given values to stdout
ECHO ON		Echo executed commands to stdout
ENDLOCAL	export-env	Change env in the caller
EXIT	exit	Close the prompt or script
FOR %<var> IN (<set>) DO <command>	for $<var> in <set> { <command> }	Run a command for each item in a set
FTYPE		Displays or modifies file types used in file extension associations
GOTO		Jump to a label
IF ERRORLEVEL <number> <command>	if $env.LAST_EXIT_CODE >= <number> { <command> }	Run a command if the last command returned an error code >= specified
IF <string> EQU <string> <command>	if <string> == <string> { <command> }	Run a command if strings match
IF EXIST <filename> <command>	if (<filename> | path exists) { <command> }	Run a command if the file exists
IF DEFINED <variable> <command>	if '$<variable>' in (scope variables).name { <command> }	Run a command if the variable is defined
MD or MKDIR	mkdir	Create directories
MKLINK		Create symbolic links
MOVE	mv	Move files
PATH	$env.Path	Display the current path variable
PATH <path>;%PATH%	$env.Path = ($env.Path | append <path>)	Edit the path variable
PATH %PATH%;<path>	$env.Path = ($env.Path | prepend <path>)	Edit the path variable
PAUSE	input "Press any key to continue . . ."	Pause script execution
PROMPT <template>	$env.PROMPT_COMMAND = { <command> }	Change the terminal prompt
PUSHD <path>/POPD	enter <path>/dexit	Change working directory temporarily
REM	#	Comments
REN or RENAME	mv	Rename files
RD or RMDIR	rm	Remove directory
SET <var>=<string>	$env.<var> = <string>	Set environment variables
SETLOCAL	(default behavior)	Localize environment changes to a script
START <path>	Partially covered by start <path>	Open the path in the system-configured default application
START <internal command>		Start a separate window to run a specified internal command
START <batch file>		Start a separate window to run a specified batch file
TIME /T	date now | format date "%H:%M:%S"	Get the current time
TIME		Set the current time
TITLE		Set the cmd.exe window name
TYPE	open --raw	Display the contents of a text file
	open	Open a file as structured data
VER		Display the OS version
VERIFY		Verify that file writes happen
VOL		Show drive information

Forwarded CMD.EXE commands

Nu accepts and runs some of CMD.EXE's internal commands through cmd.exe.

The internal commands are: ASSOC, CLS, ECHO, FTYPE, MKLINK, PAUSE, START, VER, VOL

These internal commands take precedence over external commands.

For example, with a ver.bat file in the current working directory, executing ^ver executes CMD.EXE's internal VER command, NOT the ver.bat file.

Executing ./ver or ver.bat will execute the local bat file though.

Note that Nushell has its own start command which takes precedence. You can call the CMD.EXE's internal START command with the external command syntax ^start.

Clearing the commandline buffer by pressing ESC

CMD.EXE features the ability to clear the commandline buffer by pressing the ESC key.

While Nu does not replicate this by default, a keybind can be added to your config.nu to enable similar functionality:

$env.config.keybindings ++= [{
    name: 'esc_clear'
    modifier: 'None'
    keycode: 'Esc'
    mode: ['Emacs', 'Vi_Normal']
    event: {edit: 'Clear'}
}]