Incomputing,dpath is an internalcmd.execommand onIBMOS/2^[1] andMicrosoftWindows^[2][3] that allows using a set of files with theTYPE command and withinput redirection as if they are in the current directory. On Windows it is undocumented and deprecated.dpath differs from theappend command in the way it operates.dpath informs programs what directories they should search in order to findcomputer files. It is then up to the applications to recognize%DPATH%. Using theappend command on the other side, programs are able to find files without recognizing that the command is in effect.

InDOS theappend command allows programs to open data files in specified directories as if they were in thecurrent directory. SinceWindows NT this is not working as the cmd.exe introduced command processor extensions andappend become redundant. Despite this the executable was and is still available in32-bit versions of Windows. Anyway, the command relied on%DPATH%environment variable, which can be edited with thedpath command. In the modern Windows installations only thedpath command is working despite the help message still is pointing to theappend command.^[4][5]

     DPATH pathname [;pathname] [;pathname] [;pathname]...     DPATH     DPATH ;  pathname : drive letter and/or folder   ;       : the command 'DPATH ;' will clear the path

Without parameters the will display the current list of the directories.Editing%DPATH% environment variable also can be used.DPATH /? will print theappend command help message.

Input redirection:^[4]

C:\>echo hello>c:\test\in.txtC:\batch>type c:\test\in.txthelloC:\>dir /a /bC:\>set/pvar=<in.txtThe system cannot find the file specified.C:\>setvarEnvironment variable var not definedC:\>dpath c:\test;C:\>set/pvar=<in.txtC:\>setvarvar=hello

With TYPE command:^[5]

C:\>echo hello>c:\test\in.txtC:\batch>type c:\test\in.txthelloC:\>dir /a /bC:\>set/pvar=<in.txtThe system cannot find the file specified.C:\>type in.txthello

• List of DOS commands

• Peter Dyson (1995).Mastering OS/2 Warp.Sybex.ISBN 978-0782116632.
• Kathy Ivens; Brian Proffit (1993).OS/2 Inside & Out.Osborne McGraw-Hill.ISBN 978-0078818714.
• Barry Nance; Greg Chicares (1992).Using OS/2 2.0.Que Publishing.ISBN 978-0880228633.

Wikibooks has a book on the topic of:Guide to Windows Commands

• Microsoft TechNet Append article
• PATH command on SS64.COM

• Windows commands
• External DOS commands
• OS/2 commands

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