Solved What is "more?" when typing '(' in cmd?

[M4dn3ss]

Just noticed something interesting while typing an opening parenthesis in the command prompt (left curved bracket)
I haven't been able to find out what it is, does anyone know what it is exactly? It just says "more?" and doesn't really seem to react to input at first glance. Screenshot is attached.

 

[Anak]

My first thought was, did you try touching the Enter/Return Key?

More - screen display | SS64.com

 

[pallesenw]

It has to do with scripting. In batch files you create a block of code inside ( ... )

 

[cyclic]

This from Microsoft should help

 

[pallesenw]

Forget about the "more" command

 

[M4dn3ss]

Okay, kinda pointless but interesting to know nonetheless lol

 

[Kari]

As the opening parenthesis is not enough for command interpreter to understand what you want to do, it asks what should come after it.

It has most definitely nothing to do with MORE command.

An easy test for you to see it yourself:

• Type ( on command prompt, press Enter
  • You will notice command is not understood, Windows asks more information
• Type dir, press Enter
  • Command still incomplete, Windows asks more information
• Type ), press Enter
  • Command complete, Windows will run it

​

Kari

 

[Anak]

Kari, that is a beautiful example on how the More? cmd is used.

Can I assume that if I see the "?" mark after other commands, the interpreter is asking for more input?

 

[strollin]

As Kari said, it doesn't have anything to do with the More command which is separate. Here's an example of using the More command:

It causes output to be displayed a screen at a time by pausing and waiting for user interaction. Pressing the spacebar will display the next screen, pressing Return will display the next line.

 

[Anak]

That was what I originally thought, Thanks Kari, and strollin'

 

[Kari]

Kari, that is a beautiful example on how the More? cmd is used.

Can I assume that if I see the "?" mark after other commands, the interpreter is asking for more input?

No .

But if you see More ?, it means the command is incomplete, Windows does not understand it.

I notice that I did explain this quite poorly, so here's a bit more information.

You can give several commands in one command line sentence as far as the commands are separated with an ampersand (&) and put within the parenthesis. This is useful in batch files, especially when doing FOR ... DO loops.

Following command sentence would first create a folder called D:\TARGET, then copy all PDF files starting with the letter B from folder E:\TEST to D:\TARGET and finally show message "Selected files in E:\TEST copied to D:\TARGET":

(MD D:\TARGET & COPY E:\TEST\B*.pdf D:\TARGET & ECHO Selected files in E:\TEST copied to D:\TARGET)

Notice the ampersand (&) signs between the commands, command sentence within the parenthesis.

The output in command prompt window would look like this:

​

Kari

 

[Anak]

Thanks for More? information on the subject.
Unfortunately I've let my command skills wither to the point that I would have to burn some serious midnight oil to get back into it, but I've always enjoyed working with the command prompt.

I saved vanderwoude's link.

 

[Kari]

No probs, Anak .

The command line and batching / scripting options in Windows cover a lot more, can do a lot more than an average user or even quite geeky user usually knows, not to mention how complex things you can do with Windows PowerShell.

With modern operating systems it is of course possible to use the PC almost solely by pointing and clicking but IMO it is worth for every advanced Windows user to learn command line and PowerShell.

Just my 2 Euro cents...

Kari

 

[M4dn3ss]

So basically you can run multiple commands like that... interesting

 

[Kari]

So basically you can run multiple commands like that... interesting

Yes. Using the opening parenthesis alone you can also input multiple commands into a buffer, to be executed all one after another only when the closing parenthesis is given.

An example. Try this, input the characters and commands in command prompt as told here:

• Type ( and hit Enter
  • This starts a multiple command sentence and asks more information
• Type dir C: and hit Enter
  • No closing parenthesis ergo system asks more
• Type Echo This was an example of multiple commands in one command sentence and hit Enter
  • Again, no closing parenthesis, system asks more
• Type ) and hit Enter
  • Command sentence finished with closing parenthesis, being ready to be executed. As instructed, the system shows folder listing and thereafter the text "This was an example of multiple commands in one command sentence"

The above example in command prompt window would look like this:

​

Kari