cmd.exe replacement w/ persistent history

[danboid]

cmd.exe is a sorry excuse for a console, I'm sure most will agree wholeheartedly that its one of windows most shoddy aspects.

Theres lots not to like about it, but the one that really gets to me is the lack of a command history that survives closing the command console down and starting it again. This is standard in most all *nix terminals and I find it painful not having it under Win.

So far I've tried Powershell, console, econsole and TCC/LE but none of them have this feature enabled by default and nor can I find out how to enable it if they do.

In my travels I've noticed there is a very handy sounding 'Open this folder in Command' powertoy add-on for windows explorer to open your current folder under cmd.exe. If there is a console app that meets my requirement I'd like to have it integrate like this with windows explorer too if poss.

[danboid]

OK, so I've now got a usable command prompt under XP! Wooo! TCC(LE) and its forebear 4NT DO support saving your command history, its just not enabled by default, its hidden away under a 'secret' menu

Heres how to set it up:

1- Download and install TCC/LE

JP Software - Console and Backup Products

2- Run TCC/LE and type 'option'

3- Click 'Command Line' tab and type a valid path/filename for your command history file

4- Apply, OK, close TCC/LE

(These following steps are optional- TCC/LE alone will be fine for those who don't want multiple tabs etc)

5- Download and install Console(2)

SourceForge.net: Files

6- Run Console and go to Edit/Settings menu

7- In the 'Shell' input field point/browse Console towards your TCC/LE.exe ie C:\Program Files\JPSoft\TCCLE9\tcc.exe

8- Still under the settings window, click on 'Hotkeys' in the left pane and uncheck "Use scroll lock for scrolling" as this ensures the Up/Down arrow keys cycle through previous commands instead of moving the cursor up and down

9- OK that window and restart Console

Note that if you want to copy text under Console you need to hold down SHIFT when you click/drag

Tada! Windows becomes (a bit more) admin friendly!

[CyberNerd]

you could also try cygwin:
Cygwin Information and Installation

[danboid]

I found cygwin PAINFULLY slow compared to using real *nix and I wanted a better shell that would be fully compatible with DOS/win batch files and commands, which bash etc aren't.

[dhicks]

you could also try cygwin

Also SSH - the Open SSH server does run on Windows, I'm using it to remotely monitor our SIMS server.

--
David Hicks

[EduTech]

Dont know if its just me but the first link dont work mate.

James.

[danboid]

1st link (jpsoft home one) still working fine for me. Try this direct link to the TCC/LE installer instead

http://www.jpsoft.com/downloads/v9/tccle.exe

ssh/openssh are used to run remote, secure shells. All I wanted was a local win32 native command shell, fully DOS/cmd compatible BUT with pervasive command history and thats what TCC is. Be cool if there was an open source equivalent with some improved defaults- anyone?

[EduTech]

Yes thank you that direct link worked.

Cheers