JSI Tip 2542. Command line folder and file completion in Windows 2000.

In tip 0031, we configured command line file name completion for Windows NT.

In Windows 2000, you can control both the file and path completion.

To enable file and folder completion for one use of the command processor, type CMD /F:ON, which sets the file completion character to CTRL+F and the path completion to CTRL+D. To disable it for the current session, type CMD /F:OFF.

To set file name completion via the registry, use Regedt32 to navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Command Processor

Edit or Add Value name CompletionChar as a REG_DWORD data type. A data value of 0 turns off filename completion.
A data value in the range of 0x1 - 0x1F turns it on, where the data value is the ASCII control character.
A data value of 0x4 is CTRL+D, while 0x6 is CTRL+F.

To set path completion, Edit or Add Value name PathCompletionChar as a REG_DWORD data type. A data value of 0 turns off path completion.
A data value in the range of 0x1 - 0x1F turns it on, where the data value is the ASCII control character.
A data value of 0x4 is CTRL+D, while 0x6 is CTRL+F.

NOTE: Both these Value Names can also be configured at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. HKEY_CURRENT_USER takes precedence.

NOTE: When you press the file or path completion, the first matching entry appears. Pressing it again retrieves the next entry in the list.
To go backwards, press SHIFT+<completion-character>.