How to change the prompt.

Solution

Changing the prompt in a command line can give you additional helpful information while navigating through a session.

Microsoft DOS users

To change the prompt in MS-DOS you must utilize the prompt command followed by special codes used in conjunction with the prompt command. Below are some commonly used prompts.

prompt $p$g

Changes the prompt to the standard used prompt in MS-DOS listing the drive with the current path, similar to what is seen below.
C:\>

prompt $t  $d$_$p$g

Change the prompt to list the time and date above the standard prompt, similar to what is seen below.
13:38:49.78 Mon 02/17/2003
C:\>

If you wish to make these changes permanent, edit the autoexec.bat and add the prompt line you used at the prompt.

Unix / Linux users

Changing the prompt in Unix / Linux varies depending on what shell you are using.

If you are using the C Shell, type:

set prompt="`hostname`>"

Displays the hostname in the prompt, similar to the below prompt:
ComputerHope>

set prompt="`pwd`>"

Displays the working directory with the prompt:
/root>

set prompt="`hostname`(`pwd`)>"

Displays the hostname along with the working directory:
ComputerHope(/root)>

set prompt=\[`id -nu`@`hostname -s`\]\#\

Displays the user who is logged in along with the hostname, similar to the below prompt:
[root@computerhope]#

If you wish to make the prompt permanent in the C Shell, edit the .cshrc file and add the same line you used at the prompt.