Aliases in Windows command prompt

Question

I have added notepad++.exe to my Path in Environment variables.

Now in command prompt, notepad++.exe filename.txt opens the filename

Answer 1

Naturally, I would not rest until I have the most convenient solution of all. Combining the very many answers and topics on the vast internet, here is what you can have.

• Loads automatically with every instance of cmd
• Doesn't require keyword DOSKEY for aliases
  example: ls=ls --color=auto $*

Note that this is largely based on Argyll's answer and comments, definitely read it to understand the concepts.

How to make it work?

1. Create a mac macro file with the aliases
   you can even use a bat/cmd file to also run other stuff (similar to .bashrc in linux)
2. Register it in Registry to run on each instance of cmd
     or run it via shortcut only if you want

Example steps:

%userprofile%/cmd/aliases.mac

;==============================================================================
;= This file is registered via registry to auto load with each instance of cmd.
;================================ general info ================================
;= https://stackoverflow.com/a/59978163/985454  -  how to set it up?
;= https://gist.github.com/postcog/5c8c13f7f66330b493b8  -  example doskey macrofile
;========================= loading with cmd shortcut ==========================
;= create a shortcut with the following target :
;= %comspec% /k "(doskey /macrofile=%userprofile%\cmd\aliases.mac)"

alias=subl %USERPROFILE%\cmd\aliases.mac
hosts=runas /noprofile /savecred /user:QWERTY-XPS9370\administrator "subl C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts" > NUL

p=@echo "~~ powercfg -devicequery wake_armed ~~" && powercfg -devicequery wake_armed && @echo "~~ powercfg -requests ~~ " && powercfg -requests && @echo "~~ powercfg -waketimers ~~"p && powercfg -waketimers

ls=ls --color=auto $*
ll=ls -l --color=auto $*
la=ls -la --color=auto $*
grep=grep --color $*

~=cd %USERPROFILE%
cdr=cd C:\repos
cde=cd C:\repos\esquire
cdd=cd C:\repos\dixons
cds=cd C:\repos\stekkie
cdu=cd C:\repos\uplus
cduo=cd C:\repos\uplus\oxbridge-fe
cdus=cd C:\repos\uplus\stratus

npx=npx --no-install $*
npxi=npx $*
npr=npm run $*

now=vercel $*


;=only in bash
;=alias whereget='_whereget() { A=$1; B=$2; shift 2; eval \"$(where $B | head -$A | tail -1)\" $@; }; _whereget'

history=doskey /history
;= h [SHOW | SAVE | TSAVE ]
h=IF ".$*." == ".." (echo "usage: h [ SHOW | SAVE | TSAVE ]" && doskey/history) ELSE (IF /I "$1" == "SAVE" (doskey/history $g$g %USERPROFILE%\cmd\history.log & ECHO Command history saved) ELSE (IF /I "$1" == "TSAVE" (echo **** %date% %time% **** >> %USERPROFILE%\cmd\history.log & doskey/history $g$g %USERPROFILE%\cmd\history.log & ECHO Command history saved) ELSE (IF /I "$1" == "SHOW" (type %USERPROFILE%\cmd\history.log) ELSE (doskey/history))))
loghistory=doskey /history >> %USERPROFILE%\cmd\history.log

;=exit=echo **** %date% %time% **** >> %USERPROFILE%\cmd\history.log & doskey/history $g$g %USERPROFILE%\cmd\history.log & ECHO Command history saved, exiting & timeout 1 & exit $*
exit=echo **** %date% %time% **** >> %USERPROFILE%\cmd\history.log & doskey/history $g$g %USERPROFILE%\cmd\history.log & exit $*

;============================= :end ============================
;= rem ******************************************************************
;= rem * EOF - Don't remove the following line.  It clears out the ';'
;= rem * macro. We're using it because there is no support for comments
;= rem * in a DOSKEY macro file.
;= rem ******************************************************************
;=

Now you have three options:

• a) load manually with shortcut

  create a shortcut to cmd.exe with the following target :
  %comspec% /k "(doskey /macrofile=%userprofile%\cmd\aliases.mac)"

• b) register just the aliases.mac macrofile

• c) register a regular cmd/bat file to also run arbitrary commands
  see example cmdrc.cmd file at the bottom

note: Below, Autorun_ is just a placeholder key which will not do anything. Pick one and rename the other.

Manually edit registry at this path:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor]

  Autorun    REG_SZ    doskey /macrofile=%userprofile%\cmd\aliases.mac
  Autorun_    REG_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\cmd\cmdrc.cmd

Or import reg file:

%userprofile%/cmd/cmd-aliases.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor]
"Autorun"="doskey /macrofile=%userprofile%\\cmd\\aliases.mac"
"Autorun_"="%USERPROFILE%\\cmd\\cmdrc.cmd"

%userprofile%/cmd/cmdrc.cmd _{you don't need this file if you decided for b) above}

:: This file is registered via registry to auto load with each instance of cmd.
:: https://stackoverflow.com/a/59978163/985454

@echo off
doskey /macrofile=%userprofile%\cmd\aliases.mac

:: put other commands here