How to change the prompt.
Issue
How to change the prompt.
Solution
Changing the prompt in a command line can give you additional helpful information while navigating through a session.
Microsoft DOS users
To change the prompt in MS-DOS you must utilize the prompt command followed by special codes used in conjunction with the prompt command. Below are some commonly used prompts.
prompt $p$g
Changes the prompt to the standard used prompt in MS-DOS listing the drive with the current path, similar to what is seen below.
C:\>
prompt $t $d$_$p$g
Change the prompt to list the time and date above the standard prompt, similar to what is seen below.
13:38:49.78 Mon 02/17/2003
C:\>
If you wish to make these changes permanent, edit the autoexec.bat and add the prompt line you used at the prompt.
Unix / Linux users
Changing the prompt in Unix / Linux varies depending on what shell you are using.
If you are using the C Shell, type:
set prompt="`hostname`>"
Displays the hostname in the prompt, similar to the below prompt:
ComputerHope>
set prompt="`pwd`>"
Displays the working directory with the prompt:
/root>
set prompt="`hostname`(`pwd`)>"
Displays the hostname along with the working directory:
ComputerHope(/root)>
set prompt=\[`id -nu`@`hostname -s`\]\#\
Displays the user who is logged in along with the hostname, similar to the below prompt:
[root@computerhope]#
If you wish to make the prompt permanent in the C Shell, edit the .cshrc file and add the same line you used at the prompt.
Additional information
- See the prompt command page for further information about the MS-DOS and Windows command line prompt command.