Windows 7 / Getting Started

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Changing the Current Path with Windows Explorer

A neat feature that's available with the command prompt is the ability to use drag and drop from Windows Explorer to copy the path. It doesn't change the directory, but you can use it to make things a lot easier.

This feature is not available when you run the command prompt using Run As Administrator.

Using Drag and Drop with the Command Prompt

1. If a command prompt is not already open, launch a command prompt
2. Launch Windows Explorer and browse to the Libraries\Documents\My Documents folder
3. Position Windows Explorer and the Command Prompt window side by side
4. Click My Documents in Windows Explorer, drag it to the Command Prompt window, and release it You'll notice that the path is now displayed in the window Your display will be similar to the following graphic.
5. In the figure, the user name is Mike, so the default path of Mike Libraries starts as C:\Users\Mike and the actual path to the Libraries\Documents\My Documents folder is C:\Users\Mike\Documents When the My Documents folder is dragged and dropped into the Command Prompt window, the path is typed out However, you're not finished yet.
6. Use the left arrow (or the Home key) to position your cursor to the left of all the text Type CD and a space to modify the command, and press Enter Your path will be changed to the equivalent of the My Documents folder.

TipYou can easily change the path using Windows Explorer, but you can also launch the command prompt to any folder's location from Windows Explorer Press the Shift key, right-click the folder, and select Open Command Window Here The command prompt will be launched with the directory set at the same folder as Windows Explorer.