Opening a Word file ( .doc or .docx ) from the MS-DOS command prompt is possible, but there are a few steps you need to follow.
Before we move forward, three important commands you need to know here:
cd to change directory
cd.. to go back one step at a time and
dir to show all files and folders in current location.
After every command, you have to press Enter.
Now let’s start:
Open the Command Prompt:
Press Win + R on your keyboard
Type cmd and press Enter
Navigate to the File Location. By default, it shows you the following location. Use the ‘cd..’ command to go to your file location.
C:\Users\john>
C:\Users\john>cd..
C:\Users>cd..
C:\>
List files and folders using: dir
C:\>dir
This will show you all the folders and files in this directory. Now go to your folder
C:\>cd MyDocs
press Enter
C:\MyDocs>
Now you are in MyDocs folder. Type dir and then Enter
C:\MyDocs>dir
It will show you all the sub-folders and files. You can go to any sub-folder and navigate the same way using cd and dir commands
C:\MyDocs>cd MySubFolder
C:\MyDocs\MySubFolder>dir
press Enter. Remember if you want to go back one step then type cd..
C:\MyDocs\MySubFolder>cd..
press Enter
C:\MyDocs>
Now, let’s say your file is in this folder and called MyFile.doc. This is the word document you want to open from command line.
So type:
C:\MyDocs>start MyFile.doc
press Enter. Your file should open now.
Another method:
C:\MyDocs>start winword MyFile.doc or
C:\MyDocs>start winword MyFile.docx
Same way, let’s say I want to open a .jpeg file in this folder named ocean_wave.jpeg. Just type:
C:\MyDocs>start ocean_wave.jpeg
That’s it.
When gets messy, to clear the screen, type in your command line cls and Enter
C:\MyDocs>cls
If you need to change the Drive from C to D, type D: and Enter and vice versa:
C:\MyDocs>D:
D:\>
To Exit from your MS-DOS command prompt, type exit, press Enter.
C:\MyDocs>exit
Cheers and have fun!!!