The Dark World of DOS

One of the fastest ways of doing things in Windows XP is to use DOS commands. Today's tip deals with the mysterious DOS command line interface and some of the many things that can be done with it.

• Getting started
  
  • To open the command prompt: Start > Run…, type cmd and hit Enter.
  • If you need to type lengthy file or folder name, you can drag the file or folder from Windows Explorer directly into the DOS command line interface.
  • If you would like help for any command, type the command name followed by a space, then/?, e.g. dir /?.
  
  
• Some useful commands
  
  assoc – Displays which programs will open the file with .xyz extension.
  It can be used either to display or modify file extension associations. If you just type assoc then it will display the list of all file extensions and associated programs used to open that file. For example, assoc .doc will show you the name of the program which the file is associated with.
  
  attrib – Displays and changes file attributes (i.e. make hidden files visible).
  It displays, sets, or removes the read-only, archive, system, and hidden attributes assigned to files or directories. For example, if you want to edit a desktop.ini file that's hidden you can use attrib commands to unhide it and edit it.
  • attrib tips: "+" – adds an attribute. "-" – removes an attribute
    Example: C:\Documents and Settings\[user id]>attrib resume.doc +r or C:\Documents and Settings\[user id]>attrib rk-resume.doc +a -h
    Key: a = Archive, r = Read-Only, h = Hidden, s = System
  
  cd – Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory and also can change directory or folder (i.e. Directory is called folder in windows world).
  It displays the name of the current directory or can change the current folder.
  • Display the name of the current drive and folder: cd
  • Change directory to another path: cd pathName
  
  cls – Clears the command prompt window.
  
  control – Launch Control Panel from command prompt.
  This allows you to launch control panel applets from the command line.
  
  dir – Displays a list of a directory's files and subdirectories.
  If it is used without parameters, dir displays the disk's volume label and serial number, followed by a list of directories and files on the disk, including their names and the date and time each was last modified. For files, dir displays the name extension and the size in bytes; dir also displays the total number of files and directories listed, their cumulative size, and the free space (in bytes) remaining on the disk. Some examples:
  • List the contents of the current directory: c:\>dir
  • Lists contents of a path: e.g. dir c:\program files
  • Wildcards: *
    Wildcard usage: c:/windows/system32>dir *.exe - will display files with .exe extension or c:/windows/system32>dir *.* - will display the file with any extensions.
  
  driverquery – Displays a list of all installed device drivers and their properties.
  
  systeminfo – Know your computer configuration.
  It displays detailed configuration information about your computer and its operating system. It includes operating system configuration, security information, product ID, and hardware properties, such as RAM, disk space, and network cards etc.
  
  tree – It displays the directory structure of a path or of a disk drive graphically.
  Windows XP doesn't have direct command to print directory content so you can do that by combining following commands together.
  
  Try this tree DOS command and redirect the output to a text file.
  • tree > directorycontent.txt
  • print directorycontent.txt
  The file will be stored under the location you are currently working in, like C:\Documents and Settings\UserID.
  
  type – View txt files in command prompt without opening it with Notepad It displays the contents of a text file. The type command is mostly used to view text files without modifying them.

Your future Boss

People don't leave organisations; they leave their bosses.' This is an old cliche. According to a survey, almost 71 per cent of employees look for new jobs because of problems with their bosses. A recent Gallup survey of over 1,000,000 employees found that, if a company was losing good people, the biggest reason was their immediate supervisors.

What makes it ironical is that, more often than not, it is your future boss who ends up taking your final interview. And while they try and understand the way you fit in with their teams, it is your responsibility to understand their management style as well. So, when you get an opportunity to turn the tables on them, here are some questions you must ask.

1. What are your key expectations from team members?

Often, as an answer to this question, most supervisors start by describing traits demonstrated by their favourite employees in the team. This can be a great clue to understanding what it is going to take to get into your boss's good books. If your boss-to-be says he wants team members to take initiative and perform independently, you know he is not going to micromanage and breathe down your neck everyday. If he says that they expect team members to 'go the extra mile' and work hard, you will spoil your impression by trying to sneak out of office early every day.


5. What does it take to succeed in a role like this?

This question will help you achieve two things. First, it will help you understand the standards your boss expects you to meet. Second, you will come across as someone who is keen on succeeding. You must also ask how success is measures in the team as it depends on a boss's managerial style. For instance, if it's a sales oriented position, will you be rewarded only for exceeding sales, or are there rewards for customer satisfaction, teamwork etc? Try and get specific answers from the employer, as this will be an indication of where you should focus your energies if you intend to take up the job.


3. Could you tell me more about the composition of the current team?

What you are really asking your boss-to-be is to describe the people in his team. This is a great question to check his or her people skills. You will find out if he or she invests enough time in knowing the team well. Watch out for what is said. Is there pride when he or she speaks about the team? Does the boss know a lot about the team members? Often, a good boss will take pride when describing his or her team, and this will reflect in the tone and enthusiasm. You don't want to work for someone who hardly bothers to connect with you as a person.

4. What is your personal management style?

Ideally, you would want to know the boss's problem-solving approach and the way he or she manages people and resources. Does the boss have a hands-on approach or prefer to delegate responsibilities? He or she may like to take charge and be in control all the time, or may trust the team completely and simply supervise. This is important to know or you may mistake the boss's enthusiasm to help you as interference with your work.


5. What has your experience with the company been like so far?

This is a tricky question, as almost every boss will try and give you a positive response. You need to watch out for body language, tone and overall attitude while they describe their experience. If they show indifference or give you a lukewarm response, it is an indication that what they say is just an attempt to get you into the organisation. If they have a smile on their faces and enjoy describing their experience, you shouldn't have any hesitation about working for them.


Even a great job can turn into a bad experience if you don't get along with the person you work for. Asking the right questions at the interview will save you from nasty surprises later.