Comparison of Command Languages

This table compares two command languages: DCL commands used on VMS systems and Unix shell commands. Commands are paired to show how similar functions are specified in both interfaces.

VMS Command	UNIX Command
BACKUP	tar
COPY	cp
CREATE/DIRECTORY	mkdir
DELETE	rm
DIFFERENCE	diff
DIRECTORY	ls
DUMP	od
EDIT	vi
FORTRAN	f77
HELP	man
MAIL	mail
PHONE	talk
PRINT	lpr
RECALL	history
RENAME	mv
SEARCH	grep
SET BROADCAST=NOMAIL	biff n
SET DEFAULT	cd
SET PASSWORD	passwd
SET PROCESS/PRIORITY	nice
SET PROTECTION	chmod
SET TERMINAL	stty
SHOW DEFAULT	pwd
SHOW SYSTEM	ps -aux
SHOW TIME	date
SHOW USERS	who
SORT	sort
STOP/ID	kill -9
TYPE	cat
TYPE/PAGE	more
WRITE	echo

Note that DCL commands may be abbreviated to its shortest unique length. Thus, you may use "TY" for "TYPE" and "DIR" for "DIRECTORY." The first four characters of any DCL command are enough to make it unique.

DCL Commands are not case sensitive. You may use UPPER case, lower case, or Mixed Case. Unix commands generally are case sensitive.

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