DOS to UNIX Translation

A quick reference for users of DOS who are moving to UNIX. Look for a task or DOS command and then select the UNIX command for further details.

To ...                      DOS                     UNIX

display list of files       dir/w dir               ls
                            dir                     ls -l
display contents of file    type                    cat
display file with pauses    type filename | more    more

copy file                   copy                    cp
find string in file         find                    grep
                                                    fgrep
compare files               comp                    diff
rename file                 rename OR ren           mv
delete file                 erase OR del            rm
delete directory            rmdir OR rd             rmdir
change file protection      attrib                  chmod
create directory            mkdir OR md             mkdir
change working directory    chdir OR cd             cd
get help                    help                    man
                                                    apropos
display date and time       date, time              date
display free disk space     chkdsk                  df
print file                  print                   lpr
display print queue         print                   lpq