Guide 3 Notes

Chapter 6: Tools for Technology Professionals

Command Prompt Overview: A command-line interpreter on Windows, also known as the
Windows Command Processor or cmd.exe. Primarily used for executing commands,
automating tasks through scripts, performing advanced administrative functions, and
troubleshooting Windows.

Basic Commands:
To open Command Prompt: cmd in Windows Start Menu.
dir: Displays list of directories and files in a specific folder.
cls: Clears the screen of the Command Prompt.
help: Displays a list of available commands. You can get more information on a specific
command by typing help followed by the command name (e.g., help color).

Common Commands:
cd c:\: Changes the directory to the root of the C: drive.
tree: Displays the directory structure of a path or directory.
start: Opens a new Command Prompt window or launches an application, e.g., start
notepad opens Notepad.

File and Directory Management:

Create a folder: md or mkdir followed by the folder name.
Create a file: type nul > filename.txt creates an empty text file.
Rename a file: ren oldname newname or rename oldname newname.
Delete a file: del filename permanently deletes a file.
Delete a folder: rd or rmdir followed by the folder name. This deletion is final.

Batch Files

Batch Files: Text files containing a sequence of commands for Windows to execute. The
Command Prompt interprets these commands in sequence.
Common Batch Commands:
echo: Displays a message on the screen.
set: Used to define variables (e.g., %Random% generates a random number).
if: Allows conditional execution of commands based on comparisons (e.g., if variable
equals X, execute Y).
goto: Jumps to a specific label in the script for execution.
Example:
 To create a simple batch file that clears the screen and waits for input:

Creating a Batch File:

1. Write commands in a text editor (e.g., Notepad).
2. Save the file with a .bat extension.
3. Double-click the batch file to execute.

Example Project: Number Guessing Game

The guide walks through creating a number guessing game using a batch file. Here's an outline of
how the game works:

1. Random Number Generation:

The script generates a random number between 0 and 100 using %Random% %% 100.
2. User Input:
The user is prompted to guess the number.
3. Comparison Logic:
The script compares the user's guess with the generated number.
It provides feedback:
If the guess is too low or too high, the user is prompted to try again.
If the guess is correct, the script informs the user.
4. Tracking Attempts:
The number of attempts made by the user is tracked.

Important Points:

1. Command Prompt vs GUI: The Command Prompt allows access to system files and folders
that might not be visible in the graphical user interface (GUI), especially hidden files.
2. Commands as Building Blocks: Commands are building blocks for scripts that automate
repetitive tasks.
3. Batch File Flexibility: Batch files provide flexibility by allowing sequences of commands to
run without user interaction, making them powerful tools for automating tasks.

Recap

The Command Prompt is crucial for professionals who want to perform tasks faster and
automate processes on Windows.
Batch files are essential for automating tasks and can be created easily with basic
command-line knowledge.
The number guessing game project demonstrates how simple logic, loops, and conditions
can be used in batch scripting.
Steps to Create the Game (the example project):

Create a batch file (e.g., guessgame.bat).

Include logic for generating the random number:

Add logic to take the user's input and compare it with the generated number.
Use if statements to check if the guess is too high, too low, or correct.
Keep track of how many guesses the user has made.

1. Create the Batch File

1. Open Notepad (or any text editor).

2. In Notepad, save the file as guessgame.bat.
When saving, select "All Files" in the "Save as type" dropdown and use .bat as the file
extension.

2. Write the Batch Script

Start by opening guessgame.bat in Notepad. Here’s how you can write the complete batch script
step by step:

Step 1: Clear the Screen and Set Up the Game

First, add these lines to clear the screen and set the environment for the game:

@echo off

title Number Guessing Game

cls

Step 2: Generate a Random Number

Use the %Random% variable to generate a random number between 0 and 100:

set /a Nba=%Random% %% 101

%Random% generates a number between 0 and 32,767. By using % 101, you limit it to a
number between 0 and 100.

Step 3: Initialize the Guess Counter

Create a variable to track how many guesses the user makes:

set /a Attempts=0
Step 4: Start the Game Loop

Now, you need a loop to prompt the user for guesses until they find the correct number. Add
a label to mark the start of the loop:

:Start

Step 5: Prompt for User Input

Ask the user to input a number and store it in a variable:

set /p Guess=Guess a number between 0 and 100:

Step 6: Check the User's Guess

Use ifstatements to check if the guess is too high, too low, or correct:

if %Guess% LSS %Nba% (

echo Your guess is too low.

set /a Attempts+=1

goto Start

if %Guess% GTR %Nba% (

echo Your guess is too high.

set /a Attempts+=1

goto Start

if %Guess% EQU %Nba% (

set /a Attempts+=1

echo Congratulations! You guessed the number in %Attempts% attempts.

goto End

Step 7: End the Game

Add an Endlabel to finish the game when the correct number is guessed:
 :End

pause

exit

3. Save and Run the Game

1. After writing the script, save your guessgame.bat file.

2. To run the game, double-click on the guessgame.bat file. This will open the Command Prompt
and start the game.

Full Script:

@echo off

title Number Guessing Game

cls

:: Generate a random number between 0 and 100

set /a Nba=%Random% %% 101

:: Initialize attempts counter

set /a Attempts=0

:Start

:: Prompt the user to guess

set /p Guess=Guess a number between 0 and 100:

:: Check if the guess is too low

if %Guess% LSS %Nba% (

echo Your guess is too low.

set /a Attempts+=1
 goto Start

:: Check if the guess is too high

if %Guess% GTR %Nba% (

echo Your guess is too high.

set /a Attempts+=1

goto Start

:: Check if the guess is correct

if %Guess% EQU %Nba% (

set /a Attempts+=1

echo Congratulations! You guessed the number in %Attempts% attempts.

goto End

:End

pause

exit

How It Works:

Random Number Generation: The set /a Nba=%Random% %% 101 command generates a

random number between 0 and 100.
User Input: set /p Guess=Guess a number... prompts the user to enter their guess.
Logic Check: The ifstatements check if the guess is lower, higher, or equal to the generated
number:
LSS: Less than (too low).
GTR: Greater than (too high).
EQU: Equal to (correct).
 Attempts Tracking: set /a Attempts+=1 increments the attempts count by 1 each time the
user guesses.

Final Notes:

The game will keep looping (via goto Start) until the user guesses the correct number.
Once the number is guessed correctly, it displays how many attempts it took, then exits.

Chapter 6-B: Windows PowerShell

PowerShell Overview:
PowerShell is a modern command-line interpreter that includes the best features of
other popular shells.
Unlike the traditional Command Prompt (cmd.exe), PowerShell accepts and returns
objects, not just text.
It's included in Windows versions (7, 8.1, 10, 11) and Windows Server versions, as well as
Linux and macOS.

Key Concepts:

1. Cmdlets:
PowerShell commands are called cmdlets (command-lets).
They follow a verb-noun naming convention, such as Get-Process. This makes it easier to
understand the command's purpose.
You can filter cmdlets by their verb or noun.
2. Differences from Command Prompt:
PowerShell can execute commands from Command Prompt, but not the reverse.
It’s much more powerful, with the ability to write modern scripts and handle complex
administrative tasks.

Getting Started with PowerShell:

1. Opening PowerShell:
In the Windows Start Menu, type "PowerShell" and select Run as Administrator.
The interface looks similar to the Command Prompt but is more robust.
2. Learning Curve:
PowerShell may seem intimidating at first, but it’s designed to help you learn
progressively.
Use the get-help and get-command cmdlets to explore and learn about available
commands.

Useful Cmdlets:

1. get-command:
Retrieves a list of all available commands on your system.
 You can filter results with parameters like -name or -noun, e.g., get-command -name
*service* lists commands related to services.
2. get-help:
Provides detailed help for any cmdlet. For example, get-help clear-host gives instructions
on using the clear-host cmdlet.
You can also get examples by adding the -examples parameter, or view online help using
-online.
3. get-psdrive:
Displays information about the different drives on the system, including FileSystem drives
(like C:) and Registry drives (HKCU and HKLM).
4. get-content:
Retrieves and displays the contents of a file, e.g., get-content -path
"C:\Users\Documents\file.txt".
You can limit the number of lines displayed using -totalcount for the beginning of the file
or -tail for the end.
5. get-childitem:
Lists the contents of a folder. You can filter results or exclude certain file types using -filter,
-include, or -exclude.
6. set-location:
Changes the directory, equivalent to the cd command in Command Prompt, e.g., set-
location "C:\temp".
7. get-item:
Retrieves details about a specific item (file or folder) and displays its properties like
creation time, last accessed, and modified times.
8. new-item:
Creates new files or folders. E.g., new-item -path "C:\temp" -name "file.txt" -itemtype file
creates a text file in the "C:\temp" directory.
9. remove-item:
Deletes files or directories. Use -recurse and -force to delete entire directories and their
contents.

PowerShell Aliases:

Aliases are shortcuts for cmdlets, similar to keyboard shortcuts.

Use get-alias to list available aliases.
Common aliases:
cls for clear-host
cd for set-location
dir for get-childitem
del for remove-item

Comparison Operators:

PowerShell uses comparison operators to evaluate conditions. These operators return true or
false:
 Operator Description

-eq Equal to

-ne Not equal to

-gt Greater than

-ge Greater than or equal to

-lt Less than

-le Less than or equal to

Comparisons are case-insensitive by default. To make them case-sensitive, prefix the

operator with c, like -ceq or -cne.

Writing Scripts in PowerShell:

PowerShell ISE:
Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE) lets you write, run, and debug scripts in a user-
friendly interface.
To open it, search for PowerShell ISE in the Start Menu and run it as an administrator.
Simple Loop Example:
Example of a basic script:

Start-Sleep:
The Start-Sleep cmdlet pauses script execution for a specified period (seconds or
milliseconds), e.g., Start-Sleep -s 1.
get-random:
Returns a random number. You can limit the range using -minimum and -maximum, e.g.,
get-random -minimum 1 -maximum 100.

Practical Scripts:
 1. Number Guessing Game:
Using get-random and read-host cmdlets, you can build a simple number guessing game
where the system picks a random number and the user has to guess it.
2. Count-down Timer with Sound:
Combine loops, Start-Sleep, and Console.Beep() to create a countdown timer with sound
effects.

Recap:

PowerShell is a command-line interface (CLI) and a scripting language that allows

automation of tasks across Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.
It’s object-oriented and more powerful than the traditional Command Prompt.
Cmdlets are the basic building blocks of PowerShell scripts, with a simple verb-noun naming
convention.
Aliases simplify command usage, and comparison operators help evaluate conditions in
scripts.

PowerShell provides immense flexibility and is essential for system administrators, developers,
and database administrators, enabling powerful automation and task management capabilities.

Chapter 7: Bureautique
Introduction to Bureautique

Definition: Bureautique refers to applications designed to automate office tasks like

production, dispatch, reception, and document management.
Office Automation: In English, it is referred to as Office Automation, which covers the
automation of tasks related to writing, communication, and image processing.
Key Office Applications:
Word Processing Software: For creating and editing documents.
Spreadsheets: For data analysis and calculations.
Presentation Software: For creating slideshows.
Database Management: For organizing and storing data.
OCR (Optical Character Recognition): Converts scanned images into editable text.
Speech Recognition: Allows text to be input through voice commands.

Software Suites in Office Automation

Office Suites: These are packages of office software tools that often include word
processors, spreadsheets, and presentation software.
Examples: Microsoft Office, LibreOffice, WordPerfect Office.

Microsoft Office:

A paid suite of tools that includes:

 Word: Word processor.
Excel: Spreadsheet software.
PowerPoint: Presentation software.
Access: Database management software.
Outlook: Email and communication tool.
Publisher: Desktop publishing software.
OneNote: Digital note-taking software.
Available for installation on both physical media (DVD) or via Internet download.

WordPerfect Office:

Developed by Corel, also a paid suite with tools similar to Microsoft Office:
WordPerfect: Word processor.
Quattro Pro: Spreadsheet software.
Presentations: Presentation software.
Has a traditional menu interface, unlike Microsoft's ribbon-based UI.

Free and Open Source Office Suites

LibreOffice:

Open-source and free, launched in 2011.

Includes:
Writer: Word processor.
Calc: Spreadsheet software.
Impress: Presentation software.
Draw: Vector drawing and diagram software.
Base: Database management software.
Math: Mathematical formula editor.
Compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Frequent updates (version 7.4 at the time of writing).
Available for download at: LibreOffice.

OpenOffice:

Open-source office suite developed by Apache, similar to LibreOffice.

Includes:
Writer: Word processor.
Calc: Spreadsheet software.
Impress: Presentation software.
Draw: Drawing software.
Base: Database management software.
Math: Formula editor.
Downloadable at OpenOffice.
User Interface: Very similar to LibreOffice with subtle differences.

FreeOffice:
 Developed by SoftMaker and available in both free and paid versions.
Includes:
TextMaker: Word processor.
PlanMaker: Spreadsheet software.
Presentations: Presentation software.
Limitations in Free Version: Lacks advanced features like spell check and thesaurus, style
creation in PlanMaker, etc.
Optimized for touchscreens and downloadable from FreeOffice.

Interface and User Experience

1. Microsoft Office vs WordPerfect:

Microsoft Office: Features a ribbon interface with tool tabs, while WordPerfect retains a
more traditional menu and toolbar system.
Both suites allow the creation of professional documents, spreadsheets, and
presentations.
2. LibreOffice and OpenOffice Interface:
LibreOffice and OpenOffice feature a traditional menu and toolbar system like earlier
versions of Microsoft Office (pre-2007).
Customization: LibreOffice allows customization of the user interface to resemble
Microsoft’s ribbon format by selecting “Tabs” in the menu.

File Management and User Functions

Basic File Operations:

Create: Start new files using built-in templates or blank documents.
Open: Access recently used files or browse local storage.
Save: Save files in formats such as ODF (Open Document Format) or in Microsoft-
compatible formats (e.g., .docx, .xlsx).
Export: Export documents as PDF or EPUB formats using the Export feature.
Print: Provides extensive options like page selection, print layout, and number of copies.
Advanced File Operations:
Save as templates for future reuse.
Document properties: View document information such as creation date, last
modification date, and file location.

User Experience Customization in LibreOffice

LibreOffice allows users to switch between different user interface styles:

Ribbon-like tabs: Similar to Microsoft Office’s ribbon.
Traditional menus: Default setup for LibreOffice, resembles older versions of Microsoft
Office.
Users can change the interface through menu options and save the choice across all
applications in the suite.

Final Recap
 LibreOffice is a versatile, free, open-source office suite that includes tools for word
processing, spreadsheets, presentations, database management, and more.
Microsoft Office and WordPerfect Office are paid alternatives, while FreeOffice offers a
free, lightweight solution with some limitations.
Each suite is designed to handle everyday office tasks like creating reports, presentations,
and data analysis.
Customization of user interfaces in LibreOffice allows users to tailor the experience to their
preference, closely mimicking Microsoft Office if needed.

Extra Exercises:

Step 1: Exploring PowerShell Cmdlets with get-command

To explore available cmdlets in PowerShell, use the get-command cmdlet. This lists all available
commands, including cmdlets, functions, aliases, and scripts.

To list all commands:

get-command

If you want to filter cmdlets based on a specific task (e.g., file management), you can use
wildcards (*). For instance, if you're looking for cmdlets related to "item" (such as creating,
retrieving, or deleting items), run:

get-command *item*

This will list cmdlets like get-item, new-item, remove-item, etc.

Step 2: Looking Up Cmdlet Details with get-help

PowerShell provides a built-in help system to understand cmdlets in more detail. To get
information about a cmdlet, use get-help followed by the cmdlet name.

For example, to get help on the new-item cmdlet, which is used to create files and folders, run:

get-help new-item

To get detailed examples of how to use new-item, append the -examples parameter:

get-help new-item -examples

This will show practical, real-world usage examples of the new-item cmdlet.

Step 3: Creating New Directories Using new-item

You can create a new directory using the new-item cmdlet. Specify the path where the folder
should be created and set the -itemtype parameter to directory.
To create a new folder called "NewFolder" in your Documents directory:

new-item -path "C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents\NewFolder" -itemtype directory

The -path parameter specifies the location where the new folder will be created.
The -itemtype parameter is used to define what kind of item you are creating. In this case, it’s
a directory (folder).

Step 4: Deleting Directories and Files with remove-item

To delete a file or folder, use the remove-item cmdlet. When deleting directories that contain files,
use the -recurse flag to ensure all contents are deleted.

To delete a file:

remove-item -path "C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents\NewFolder\file.txt"

To delete an entire folder and all its contents, use:

remove-item -path "C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents\NewFolder" -recurse

The -recurse parameter ensures that all files and subdirectories within the specified folder are
deleted.

Step 5: Writing a PowerShell Script to Loop Through Files in a Directory

You can write a simple PowerShell script to loop through all the files in a directory and list them.
This involves using the get-childitem cmdlet to retrieve the files and a foreach loop to iterate
through them.

Define the directory where the files are located. For example:

$directory = "C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents"

Use get-childitem to retrieve all files in the specified directory:

$files = get-childitem -path $directory

Use a foreach loop to iterate over each file and display its name using Write-Host:

foreach ($file in $files) {

Write-Host "File Name: $($file.Name)"

Here’s how it looks when combined into a script:

 # Define the directory to search

$directory = "C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents"

# Get the list of all files in the directory

$files = get-childitem -path $directory

# Loop through each file and display its name

foreach ($file in $files) {

Write-Host "File Name: $($file.Name)"

Save this as a .ps1 script (for example, list-files.ps1), and you can run it in PowerShell to list the files
in the specified directory.

Summary of Key Concepts and Commands

1. Cmdlet Exploration: Use get-command to explore available cmdlets, and filter by specific
keywords.
2. Cmdlet Help: Use get-help to find detailed explanations and examples for any cmdlet.
3. Create a Directory: Use new-item with the -itemtype directory option to create new folders.
4. Delete Files/Directories: Use remove-item with the -recurse option to delete files or
directories and their contents.
5. Loop Through Files: Write scripts using get-childitem and foreach to loop through and list
files in a directory.

These steps walk through the foundational file management tasks you would perform in
PowerShell, which are important for scripting and automation.