4NT
Encyclopedia
Take Command Console formerly known as 4DOS for Windows NT and 4NT, is a command line interpreter by JP Software, designed as a substitute for the default command interpreter in Microsoft Windows. TCC is based on the earlier 4DOS
command shell for DOS
, and 4OS/2
for OS/2
.
Beginning with version 12 of 4NT, support for Windows 95, 98, ME, NT and 2000 were removed.
4NT was renamed to Take Command Console as part of JP Software's Take Command
version 9, a version of 4NT that has many more features and more extensive GUI integration. The current version of TCC, and therefore the underlying scripting language variant, is 13.0.
TCC provides a rich set of both command line and batch programming
capabilities. Unlike NT-based command line interpreter, it does not directly accept Windows Script Host
commands. It can work in conjunction with other scripting language
s, such as REXX
, Ruby
and Perl
, or Windows Scripting languages
, in the form of Active Scripting
engines such as VBScript
and JScript
as well as PerlScript
(via ActivePerl), TclScript (via ActiveTcl), PythonScript (via ActivePython
), and the scripting engine version of Object REXX
to provide greater access to the operating system
. TCC is used by data center
operations, tech support staff and programmer
s, as well as power user
s.
4DOS
4DOS is a command line interpreter by JP Software, designed to replace the default command interpreter COMMAND.COM in DOS and Windows 95/98/Me. The 4DOS family of programs are meant to replace the default command processor. 4OS2 and 4NT replace CMD.EXE in OS/2 and Windows NT respectively...
command shell for DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
, and 4OS/2
4OS/2
4OS2 is the OS/2 analogue of 4NT and 4DOS by JP Software inc. JP Software discontinued 4OS2, TCMDOS2 and TCMD16, making version 3.0, 2.0, 2.0 the final version of these...
for OS/2
OS/2
OS/2 is a computer operating system, initially created by Microsoft and IBM, then later developed by IBM exclusively. The name stands for "Operating System/2," because it was introduced as part of the same generation change release as IBM's "Personal System/2 " line of second-generation personal...
.
Beginning with version 12 of 4NT, support for Windows 95, 98, ME, NT and 2000 were removed.
4NT was renamed to Take Command Console as part of JP Software's Take Command
Take Command (command line interpreter)
Take Command was the name that JP Software used for their GUI command line interpreters for Windows 3.1 , Windows 32-bit and later OS/2 Presentation Manager . These were released concurrently with version 4DOS 5.5, 4NT 2.5 and 4OS2 2.52...
version 9, a version of 4NT that has many more features and more extensive GUI integration. The current version of TCC, and therefore the underlying scripting language variant, is 13.0.
TCC provides a rich set of both command line and batch programming
Batch file
In DOS, OS/2, and Microsoft Windows, batch file is the name given to a type of script file, a text file containing a series of commands to be executed by the command interpreter....
capabilities. Unlike NT-based command line interpreter, it does not directly accept Windows Script Host
Windows Script Host
The Microsoft Windows Script Host is an automation technology for Microsoft Windows operating systems that provides scripting capabilities comparable to batch files, but with a greater range of supported features...
commands. It can work in conjunction with other scripting language
Scripting language
A scripting language, script language, or extension language is a programming language that allows control of one or more applications. "Scripts" are distinct from the core code of the application, as they are usually written in a different language and are often created or at least modified by the...
s, such as REXX
REXX
REXX is an interpreted programming language that was developed at IBM. It is a structured high-level programming language that was designed to be both easy to learn and easy to read...
, Ruby
Ruby (programming language)
Ruby is a dynamic, reflective, general-purpose object-oriented programming language that combines syntax inspired by Perl with Smalltalk-like features. Ruby originated in Japan during the mid-1990s and was first developed and designed by Yukihiro "Matz" Matsumoto...
and Perl
Perl
Perl is a high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming language. Perl was originally developed by Larry Wall in 1987 as a general-purpose Unix scripting language to make report processing easier. Since then, it has undergone many changes and revisions and become widely popular...
, or Windows Scripting languages
Windows Script Host
The Microsoft Windows Script Host is an automation technology for Microsoft Windows operating systems that provides scripting capabilities comparable to batch files, but with a greater range of supported features...
, in the form of Active Scripting
Active Scripting
Active Scripting is the technology used in Windows to implement component-based scripting support. It is based on COM and allows installation of additional scripting engines in the form of COM modules.-Uses and history:The Active Scripting technologies were first released in 1996, with the...
engines such as VBScript
VBScript
VBScript is an Active Scripting language developed by Microsoft that is modeled on Visual Basic. It is designed as a “lightweight” language with a fast interpreter for use in a wide variety of Microsoft environments...
and JScript
JScript
JScript is a scripting language based on the ECMAScript standard that is used in Microsoft's Internet Explorer.JScript is implemented as a Windows Script engine. This means that it can be "plugged in" to any application that supports Windows Script, such as Internet Explorer, Active Server Pages,...
as well as PerlScript
PerlScript
PerlScript was initially solely an ActiveX Scripting Engine produced by the company ActiveState for use with Microsoft's Internet Information Services that allows for programmers to use Perl-based code in addition to, or in place of, VBScript or JScript in the context of web servers running the...
(via ActivePerl), TclScript (via ActiveTcl), PythonScript (via ActivePython
ActivePython
ActiveState ActivePython is a CPython distribution for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris, AIX and HP-UX, distributed by ActiveState. Since version 2.6.3.7, ActivePython comes with PyPM that is used to install binary Python packages...
), and the scripting engine version of Object REXX
Object REXX
The Object REXX programming language is an object-oriented scripting language initially produced by IBM for OS/2. It is a follow-on to and a significant extension of the "Classic Rexx" language originally created for the CMS component of VM/SP and later ported to MVS, OS/2 and PC DOS.On October 12,...
to provide greater access to the operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
. TCC is used by data center
Data center
A data center is a facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems...
operations, tech support staff and programmer
Programmer
A programmer, computer programmer or coder is someone who writes computer software. The term computer programmer can refer to a specialist in one area of computer programming or to a generalist who writes code for many kinds of software. One who practices or professes a formal approach to...
s, as well as power user
Power user
A power user is a user of a personal computer who has the ability to use advanced features of programs which are beyond the abilities of "normal" users, but is not necessarily capable of programming and system administration...
s.
Features
TCC features a number of enhancements when compared to cmd.exe- Additional commands
- GUIGraphical user interfaceIn computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
commands (msgbox, querybox, etc.) - Extended functionality of existing commands
- Extended batch fileBatch fileIn DOS, OS/2, and Microsoft Windows, batch file is the name given to a type of script file, a text file containing a series of commands to be executed by the command interpreter....
processing facilities - Support for command aliases, also in scripts
- Enhanced wildcardsWildcard character-Telecommunication:In telecommunications, a wildcard character is a character that may be substituted for any of a defined subset of all possible characters....
and the ability to filter by file sizes, date and time stamps, etcetera - Context-specific online help
- Colored directory listings
- More internal variables
- Variable functions
- An interactive debuggerDebuggerA debugger or debugging tool is a computer program that is used to test and debug other programs . The code to be examined might alternatively be running on an instruction set simulator , a technique that allows great power in its ability to halt when specific conditions are encountered but which...
for batch files, including a built-in syntax highlightingSyntax highlightingSyntax highlighting is a feature of some text editors that display text—especially source code—in different colors and fonts according to the category of terms. This feature eases writing in a structured language such as a programming language or a markup language as both structures and...
text editorText editorA text editor is a type of program used for editing plain text files.Text editors are often provided with operating systems or software development packages, and can be used to change configuration files and programming language source code.... - Configuration stored in an .INI fileInitialization fileThe INI file format is a standard for configuration files for some platforms or software. INI files are simple text files with a basic structure composed of "sections" and "properties"....
- Support for file operations over several internetInternetThe Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
protocols:- FTPFile Transfer ProtocolFile Transfer Protocol is a standard network protocol used to transfer files from one host to another host over a TCP-based network, such as the Internet. FTP is built on a client-server architecture and utilizes separate control and data connections between the client and server...
- TFTPTrivial File Transfer ProtocolTrivial File Transfer Protocol is a file transfer protocol known for its simplicity. It is generally used forautomated transfer of configuration or boot files between machines in a local environment....
- FTPSFTPSFTPS is an extension to the commonly used File Transfer Protocol that adds support for the Transport Layer Security and the Secure Sockets Layer cryptographic protocols....
, HTTPHypertext Transfer ProtocolThe Hypertext Transfer Protocol is a networking protocol for distributed, collaborative, hypermedia information systems. HTTP is the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web.... - HTTPSHttpsHypertext Transfer Protocol Secure is a combination of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol with SSL/TLS protocol to provide encrypted communication and secure identification of a network web server...
- Jabber (Instant messaging)
- FTP
- Support for plugins to provide custom functionality
External links
- JP Software
- 4DOS.INFO - Klaus Meinhard's 4DOS support site with many batch examples, related docs and programs
- [news:comp.os.msdos.4dos comp.os.msdos.4dos] - Usenet group covering 4DOS and other JP Software shells; also accessible via Google Groups