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| DOS Shell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Initial release | June 1988; 37 years ago (1988-06) |
| Operating system | MS-DOS andPC DOS |
| Platform | x86 |
| Successor | File Manager,Windows Explorer |
| Type | File manager |
| License | Commercial software |
DOS Shell is afile manager that debuted inMS-DOS andPC DOS version 4.0, released in June 1988. It was no longer included in MS-DOS version 6, but remained part of the Supplemental Disk. The Supplemental Disk could be ordered or could be downloaded through Microsoft'sFTP server. DOS Shell was retained in PC DOS untilPC DOS 2000.
DOS Shell was one of the first successful attempts to create a basicgraphical user interface (GUI) type file manager in DOS, although it is properly referred to as atext user interface (TUI) or Character-Oriented Windows (COW) even though graphical modes were available on supported hardware (VGA-equipped PCs). The shell is very much like a DOS version ofFile Manager found in Windows up to versions3.11 andNT 3.51, andFile Explorer on later versions.
An early incarnation of DOS Shell, titledMS-DOS Manager, was bundled exclusively with theEazy PC, an IBM PC clone manufactured byZenith Data Systems in 1987.[1]
In MS-DOS 4.x and 5.x, the program was implemented asCOM file (DOSSHELL.COM). In MS-DOS 6 the executable had an.EXEfilename extension (DOSSHELL.EXE).[2]
The shell includes common features seen in other file managers such as copying, moving and renaming files as well as the ability to launch applications with adouble-click. The shell could be run by thecommand "DOSSHELL". It had the ability to set simple colours and styles.
The shell also has a help system, a program list, and a task swapper. Like many modern file managers, it had the ability to display dualhierarchy directory and file lists, i.e. left and rightpanes, displaying both a list of directory contents and the hierarchical file path to the current working directory. Amouse was supported, however, like any other DOS application, it required an appropriatedevice driver.
One feature was the ability to list all files on a hard drive in a single alphabetized list along with the path and other attributes. This permitted the user to compare versions of a file in different directories by their attributes and easily spot duplicates.
DOS Shell was incapable of fullmultitasking. It supported rudimentary task switching, where only one foreground program wouldexecute, while those in the background would besuspended, with theirconventional memory state saved to a temporary swap file on the disk. The user could switch between programs using the interrupt key combinationCtrl+Esc. This process was managed by a helper executable,DOSSWAP.EXE.
In time,Windows 3.1x, with its own graphical user interface, became much more popular among computer users. Windows was capable of multitasking. System performance was much higher, with complete access toextended memory.