In computing, type is a command in various command-line interpreters (shells) such as COMMAND.COM
, cmd.exe
, 4DOS/4NT and Windows PowerShell used to display the contents of specified files on the computer terminal. The analogous Unix command is cat.
![]() The BW-DOS TYPE command | |
Developer(s) | Various open-source and commercial developers |
---|---|
Operating system | RT-11, OS/8, RSX-11, TOPS-10, TOPS-20, VMS, CP/M, MP/M, CDOS, TRIPOS, HDOS, AmigaDOS, DOS, MSX-DOS, FlexOS, PC-MOS, SpartaDOS X, 4690 OS, OS/2, Windows, AROS, ReactOS, SymbOS |
Platform | Cross-platform |
Type | Command |
License | PC-MOS: GPLv3 AROS: AROS Public ReactOS: GPLv2 |
Implementations
![Thumb](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/RT-11_help.jpg/640px-RT-11_help.jpg)
The command is available in the operating systems DEC RT-11,[1] OS/8,[2] RSX-11,[3] TOPS-10,[4] TOPS-20,[5] VMS, Digital Research CP/M,[6] MP/M,[7][8] MetaComCo TRIPOS,[9] Heath Company HDOS,[10] AmigaDOS,[11] DOS, FlexOS,[12] TSL PC-MOS,[13] SpartaDOS X,[14] IBM/Toshiba 4690 OS,[15] IBM OS/2, Microsoft Windows,[16] ReactOS,[17] AROS,[18] and SymbOS.[19]
The type
command is supported by Tim Paterson's SCP 86-DOS.[20] On MS-DOS, the command is available in versions 1 and later.[21] DR DOS 6.0 also includes an implementation of the TYPE
command.[22]
It is also available in the open source MS-DOS emulator DOSBox and the EFI shell.[23]
In Windows PowerShell, type is a predefined command alias for the Get-Content Cmdlet which basically serves the same purpose. TYPE originated as an internal command in 86-DOS.
The command-syntax and feature set between operating systems and command shell implementations can differ as can be seen in the following examples.
DEC RT-11
In Digital Equipment Corporation's RT-11, the command accepts up to six input file specifications. Multiple file specifications are separated with commas.
The default filetype is .LST. Wildcards are accepted in place of filenames or filetypes.
Syntax
The command-syntax on RT-11 is:
TYPE[/options] filespecs
COPIES:n
– Specify the number of times the file will be typedDELETE
– Delete the file after typing itLOG
– Log the names of the files typedNEWFILES
– Only files dated with the current system date will be typedNOLOG
– Suppress the log of the files typedQUERY
– Require confirmation before typing each fileWAIT
– Wait for user response before proceeding with the type
Examples
TYPE/COPIES:3 REPORT
TYPE/NEWFILES *.LST
DR CP/M, MP/M, FlexOS
In Digital Research CP/M, the command expands tabs and line-feed characters (CTRL-I), assuming tab positions are set at every eighth column.
The command does not support wildcard characters on FlexOS.[12]
Syntax
The command-syntax on CP/M is:
TYPE ufn
Note: ufn = unambiguous file reference
In MP/M, the command has a pause mode. It is specified by entering a 'P' followed by two decimal digits after the filename. The specified number of lines will be displayed and then the command will pause until a carriage return is entered.[7]
Examples
A>TYPE FILE.PLM
A>TYPE B:X.PRN
0A>TYPE CODE.ASM P23
TSL PC-MOS
The Software Link's PC-MOS includes an implementation of TYPE
. Like the rest of the operating system, it is licensed under the GPL v3.[24]
It supports an option to display the file content in hexadecimal form.[13]
Syntax
The command-syntax on PC-MOS is:
.TYPE filename [/h]
filename
– The name of the file to display/h
– Display content in hexadecimal form
Examples
[A:\].TYPE FILE.BIN /h
Microsoft Windows, OS/2, ReactOS
![Thumb](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/ReactOS-0.4.13_type_command_667x434.png/640px-ReactOS-0.4.13_type_command_667x434.png)
type
commandThe command supports wildcard characters. In Microsoft Windows and OS/2 it includes the filename in the output when typing multiple files.
Syntax
The command-syntax on Microsoft Windows and ReactOS is:
type [Drive:][Path]FileName
[Drive:][Path]FileName
– This parameter specifies the location and name of the file or files to view. Multiple file names need to be separated with spaces./?
– This parameter displays help for the command.
Examples
C:\>type "my report.txt"
C:\>type *.txt
See also
References
Further reading
External links
Wikiwand in your browser!
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.