Better Command Prompt Replacement Tool: Free Download

Easily and quickly organize command prompt windows

With PowerCmd you can easily and quickly organize command prompt windows (cmd.exe, previously known as Dos console, Windows command line or Windows command console)

Tabbed command prompts

1. Predefined layouts for groups of command prompt windows

PowerCmd allows you to group command prompts in different panes (so called split windows). You will have up to 4 groups with 6 types of predefined layout styles. If you wish to quickly shift the focused panes and input commands, just use Ctrl+1 (or Ctrl+2/Ctrl+3/Ctrl+4 for corresponding panes) to change current working pane. There are 4 samples as follows:

2. Multiple tabbed command prompts in each pane

Multiple command prompt windows can be tabbed into a pane with different titles. To quickly change active tabs, use Ctrl+Tab to shift active tabs within the same pane.

Tabbed Command Prompt Windows

The default title is "Cmd". If you wish to set your own title fo different tabs, just use the standard command "TITLE" as what you did before. The result of command "TITLE" to tabs is exactly as setting the window title for the command prompt window. Command "TITLE" is also applicable in batch script files, even in other applications which set title using platform API.

The title may be changed. If there is a command or a console application running in the console, the title will be changed correspondingly. For example, if you are running "python.exe", there are 2 cases:

- Never set your own title, "Cmd" will be replaced with running applicaion, the new title will be "python.exe".

Default title for python.exe

- Has set your own tilte, such as "MyCmd", the new title will be "MyCmd - python.exe". The title will be restored to "MyCmd" once the application "python.exe" exits.

Customized title for python.exe

3. Drag and drop tabs between panes

In addition to automatically change tabs' resident pane when set predefined layout styles, you can drag and drop tabs between different panes. Command "START" is also applicable in batch script files, even in other applications which set title using platform API.

4. Create new command prompt windows

If you wish to create new command prompts, you can select menu "File" -> "New Prompt Window" within PowerCmd, or use the shortcut key "Ctrl+N". You may need to start a separate window to run a specified program or command using command "START". The new started command prompt will also be captured by PowerCmd. The new command prompt will be a new tab within the same pane or other panes if they are empty. Command "START" will also be captured in batch script files.

5. Customized behavior for left double clicking tabs

If you wish to close the prompt window, you can input command "EXIT", or click the tab using mouse middle button, or click the "close" icon on the top right of the pane.
If you want to quickly input some frequently commands, you can customize the double clicking action of mouse left button on tabs: Open "Preference" dialog from "File" menu or toolbar, in "General" tab page you will see a input box with title "Define the behavior of double clicking on tab:", input your commands or batch script file names, one command per line.

Filtered command prompt history

You can use the up and down arrows to recall commands from history buffer. F7 and F8, the undocumented command prompt tips, are better if you want to re-execute a particular command. F7 brings up a history window with numbers, a command can be selected by the arrow keys and then executed by pressing Enter or mouse double click. Ctrl+Enter or Ctrl + double click puts the command to current command line but not executes it. F8 brings up the history window with filter. The listed commands are all start with the filter.

The image left displays a command prompt commands history buffer window without filter. You can get this window by pressing F7.

The image right displays a command prompt commands history buffer window with filter "ping w". You can input "ping w" and press F8 to popup this window or input the filter after it has been displayed.

Command Prompt History Buffer with Filter

Watch Command Prompt Environment Variables

Environment variables have long been used in computer operating systems. To display environment variables, check "Watch Environment Variables" under "view" menu. PowerCmd allows you to change environment variables from the watch window directly.

Watch Command Prompt Environment Variables

From the column header context menu, you can "Refresh" current variables, or save all environment variables and reload them later.

Watch Command Prompt Environment Variables Save Load and Refresh

You may be able to find undocumented environment variables that you never see them before, such as "=U:" on the left image. "=U:" is the working directory of volume U if you have ever changed the working directory of that volume.

Minimize to system tray

For PowerCmd, "Close" icon for application is actually functioned as minimizing to tray. Left clicking the icon in system tray will bring it back (or minimize it if PowerCmd is shown). If you need to exit the applicatoin, press shortcut key "Alt+F4", or select "Exit" from "File" menu in main window or context menu to the icon in system tray.

Command Prompt on System Tray

Automatically Outline

PowerCmd Outlining is a feature that places a number of lines into collapsible sections. By default, the command prompt output is displayed in its expanded state, and will be automatically collapsed if necessary. By right-clicking within the tabbed window, you can view 3 outlining commands from the context menu. The "Collapse All" Outlining command collapses all lines which can be collapsed. The "Expand All" command expands them if they are already collapsed.

The line which is able to be collapsed has an inversed triangle sign at the outline margin of that line. You can click the outline margin to collapse from this line to next collapsible line. Or you can double click the line from text window.

Before Outlining Command Prompt Outputs

After collapsing a number of lines to a single line, a new sign "..." will be placed at the outline margin. If you wish to expand the section, just click the outline margin or double click the line from text window.

After Outlining Command Prompt Outputs

You can also disable outlining at any time by selecting the "Enable Outlining" menu item. You can also set the count of lines to outline from "Appereance" tab page in "Preference" dialog.

Clear Screen Buffer

If you need to clear all the text contents in a window, just run command "CLS". "CLS" is a standard Windows Command Prompt command that allows a user to clear the complete contents of the screen and leave only a prompt. After clearing the entire contents, the line number margin and outline margin will be reset.

You can press ESC key to clear current input.