Алиасы команд в windows

Be it Linux, macOS, or Windows, we sometimes need to use the terminal or the command line to perform certain commands. If in such situations, we find ourselves repeating a few long commands we can use an alias to save time and make it easier.  In windows, we can create an alias as a batch command from the command prompt or the Powershell. We will see how to create and work with an alias in Batch scripting.

What is an Alias?

Alias is a shorthand command to replace another command. We can think of it as a shortcut command for multiple or long commands. It can be also understood as a map of the shortcut keyword command with the actual command. The shortcut command is replaced with the string of commands which gets executed. 

Creating an Alias

To create an alias in a windows environment or a BATCH script, we can open up a CMD or Powershell instance.

The structure of an alias is as follows:

doskey parameters  [shortcut command] = [commands to be executed]

A simple alias in BATCH scripting will look something like the following:

doskey cdoc = cd  C:\Users\Admin\Documents

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We use the keyword doskey to create an alias, the alias is simply created by specifying the shorthand command in this example the word cdoc and the final piece of information is the actual command we want to replace with this alias. Thus when we create this alias, the command cdoc executes the command cd C:\Users\Admin\Documents and hence we optimize and create a shortcut to save some time and effort.

This will create an alias for this CMD/Powershell instance only, once you exit the session or window the alias is no longer working and hence was a temporary alias.

Creating a permanent alias

To create a permanent alias, we can specify these same commands of doskey in a .bat file which is also known as the Batch script or file. After the batch script/file is created with the alias you required we can copy the path of this batch file and add it to the CMD/Powershell target to add the alias in the initialization of those environmental shells(CMD/Powershell)

Follow the steps to create a permanent alias:

Creating a batch file

We can create a simple file with any name you prefer but with a .bat extension. This batch file will contain the alias that we can use in the shells(CMD/Powershell) permanently. After creating the batch file, you can add your preferred alias in separate lines as follows:

@echo off
doskey cdoc = cd  C:\Users\Admin\Documents
doskey ls = dir

You can add other aliases as per your requirements and desire. We have used the command @echo off so that the script doesn’t print itself while executing.

Save the file and copy the location of the file by Shift + Right-clicking the file in the windows explorer. Then select the option Copy as path and the path of the batch file will be copied in your system clipboard.  

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After copying the path of the file, we can move on to the next step which is to add the path to the shell program target.

Adding the batch file path to the CMD/Powershell target

• Right-click the CMD/Powershell icon and then click on the properties option.
• There you will get a window that should have multiple options, click on the shortcut tab.
• In the shortcut tab, add the character /k and paste the file location.
• And now if we restart the CMD/Powershell the alias will work and will stay permanently until we delete them from the batch file which is linked to the shell environments.

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As we were able to see the thing working, the alias was loaded from the batch file which we created and linked in the CMD or Powershell’s target. This way we can keep multiple aliases in a single place or assemble multiple alias from different paths to a shell in Windows.

Replacing an Alias

To replace an alias in a batch environment, we can simply edit the shortcut name to the command we want to replace with. 

doskey [shortcut command] = [new commands]

We can simply redefine the shortcut alias to the new command just as we do with variables in programming.

Note: You need to use the doskey if you are writing your aliases in the file or a batch script, but if you are creating aliases just in the CMD/Powershell instances then you don’t need to write the keyword doskey in the command.

For example, we can write the cdoc alias again as follows:

We have redefined the alias to a new command and it can now work with the latest command it was changed to.

Deleting an Alias 

To disable or delete an alias is quite straightforward. We can set the shortcut alias command to empty and the Shell environment will not consider it as a valid command anymore.

doskey [shortcut command] =

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Thus, we were able to delete or disable an alias in a batch script by setting the alias to an empty value.

Options/Parameters in Batch Aliases

We can use certain parameters and options in the alias to integrate certain features that can be more used to make the alias more flexible. 

There are several parameters as follows:

There are a lot of options and parameters we can use to enhance the alias in our batch script

Note: The entire list of options/parameters can be found in the official Microsoft docs.

We can even use command line arguments in the alias as we do with the normal batch script. This can be a really powerful tool to have especially for more complex batch tasks and scripts. Let’s say we want to create an alias that creates a folder and changes our current directory into the created folder. We can use the positional parameter specified as the folder name and create and cd into the folder.

doskey md = mkdir $1 &t cd $1

We can use the $1 to indicate the first parameter passed to the alias and $t to separate the commands in the alias.

Thus, we can now dynamically use our alias in a batch script or CMD/Powershell environment. This can be further used as per the specification of the commands.

Windows CMD aliasing allows you to create shortcuts for longer commands, making them easier to use by defining your own commands with the `doskey` utility.

Here’s an example of how to create an alias:

doskey ll=dir /w /p

Understanding CMD Aliases

What is a CMD Alias?

A CMD alias is essentially a shortcut that allows you to execute commands with a simpler name or less typing effort. Think of an alias as a nickname for a command; it lets you use a shorter or more memorable term instead of the full command. For instance, instead of typing `ipconfig /all` to display your network configuration, you could create an alias that lets you just type `networkinfo`.

The primary distinction between an alias and a standard command is that aliases are customized commands made by the user, while standard commands are built into the Windows Command Prompt.

Benefits of Using Aliases

Using Windows CMD aliases comes with various advantages:

• Time-Saving Advantages: By creating a concise command for frequently used commands, you reduce the time spent typing long commands repeatedly.
• Enhanced Productivity: Short commands lead to increased efficiency, allowing you to perform tasks faster without fiddling with lengthy syntax.
• Customization: You have the freedom to define commands that suit your workflow, tailoring them to your everyday tasks.

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Creating CMD Aliases

How to Create an Alias in Windows CMD

Creating an alias in Windows CMD can be done easily using the `doskey` command. Here’s a straightforward process on how to do that:

1. Open Command Prompt.
2. Use the `doskey` command to create an alias. The basic syntax is:

doskey aliasName=command

For example, to create an alias that lists directory contents, you can do:

doskey ls=dir

Now whenever you type `ls`, it will run the `dir` command.

Permanent vs Temporary Aliases

Defining Temporary Aliases

Temporary aliases exist only for the duration of the Command Prompt session. They are removed once you close the CMD window. To create a temporary alias, follow the steps mentioned previously. For example:

doskey cls=clear

This alias will work fine during that session but will be lost once you close CMD.

Defining Permanent Aliases

In contrast, a permanent alias remains stored even after you close CMD. To create permanent aliases, you need to set them up in your CMD configuration using `doskey`. Here’s how:

1. Open a Command Prompt and type:

doskey /macrofile=yourAliasFile.txt

1. In `yourAliasFile.txt`, you can define your aliases in the same way:

ls=dir
cls=clear

Every time you open CMD, simply run the above command to load your macro file, and your aliases will be ready for use.

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Managing Aliases

Listing Existing Aliases

To see all the aliases currently available, you can list them by executing:

doskey /macros

This command will display all the active aliases, helping you keep track of what you have created.

Editing Aliases

If there is a need to modify an alias, you can simply redefine it using the `doskey` command. For instance, if you want to update the `ls` alias to include a specific option like detailed view, you can do:

doskey ls=dir /w

Deleting Aliases

To remove an alias you no longer need, use the `doskey /delete` command followed by the alias name:

doskey /delete ls

This command will remove the `ls` alias from your current CMD session.

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Advanced CMD Alias Features

Using Parameters in Aliases

Creating aliases that accept parameters can make your commands more flexible. For example, if you want to create an alias that opens a specific FTP server, you can do:

doskey ftp=start ftp $*

Here, typing `ftp myserver` will execute `start ftp myserver`, allowing for dynamic usage based on user input.

Using Batch Files with Aliases

You can also create batch files and use them as aliases for commands that require multiple steps. For instance, if you have a batch file named `runpython.bat`, you can define an alias for it:

doskey runpython=python C:\scripts\script.py

Now, typing `runpython` in the command line will execute the specified Python script.

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Troubleshooting Common Alias Issues

Common Problems with Aliases

As with any feature, users may encounter common issues when using Windows CMD aliases. Some include conflicts with existing commands or aliases not working as expected.

One solution is to ensure that your alias names do not conflict with existing CMD commands or reserved keywords.

Checking Compatibility

Not all versions of Windows support CMD aliases in the same way. Ensure that you are using a compatible version of Windows. If you experience issues, confirm whether your Windows version has limitations related to CMD features.

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Best Practices for Creating and Managing Aliases

To maximize the benefits of CMD aliases:

• Effective Naming Conventions: Keep your alias names intuitive and descriptive to minimize confusion.
• Organization: Group similar aliases together within a file if utilizing them in bulk.
• Documentation: Maintain a list of your aliases and their functions, updating them as necessary.

This practice will not only help you remember what each alias does but also assist others if they need to use your system.

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Conclusion

In summary, using Windows CMD aliases can significantly enhance your command-line efficiency. They streamline repetitive tasks, increase productivity, and allow for tailored experiences in your command-line interactions. Embrace the power of aliases and start customizing your CMD environment today.

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