Help beta test Microsoft's new shell. If you like using the command line, you'll love this.Microsoft's new command line system is also known as MSH or Nomad. This new shell will bring Microsoft's in line with the scripting and shell power of unix/linux systems. This shell incorporates .NET and the command line system. This preview will run on at least XP or 2003. Brief introduction is over. If you want to get ahead of the curve and learn about this new technology now... here's how to gain access: 1. You will need need a passport account. If you do not have one yet, you can sign-up for one at the beta website listed below. 2. Goto http://beta.microsoft.com 3. Log into the site using the following guest ID: mshPDC 4. Select Microsoft Command Shell 5. Select Survey in the left column 6. Register with a valid email address. 7. Wait for the information to be sent to you through email. (May take a day or two) 8. Once you receive your confirmation email, log back into http://beta.microsoft.co... Read More

 One of the biggest missing functions in the command prompt is the ability to extract lines from a file that match a pattern. For UNIX users, the command grep is so often used that it has become a verb. The msh has a grep-string cmdlet that performs grep-like string parsing.Use grep-string to search for a text pattern in a stream of text, for example: dir | grep-string txt will extract lines from the dir command output containing the text txt. For more information about the use of grep-string, use the help cmdlet: help grep-string Unfortunately, it appears that Microsoft used the name grep without really meaning it. Grep stands for global regular expression parser and its greatest strength is the 'regular expression' part. The msh grep-string doesn't use regular expressions. One promising thought is that since these are all defined cmdlets, someone adventurous could write a real grep function.... Read More