DOSKEY.exe

Recall and edit commands at the DOS prompt, and create macros. You cannot run a Doskey macro from a batch file.

syntax
      DOSKEY [options] [macroname=[text]]

key
   macroname  : A short name for the macro.

        text  : The commands you want to recall.

      options : for working with macros...

   /MACROFILE=filename Specify a file of macros to install

   /MACROS             Display all Doskey macros

   /EXENAME=exename    Specify an  executable other than cmd.exe

   /MACROS:exename     Display all Doskey macros for the given executable

   /MACROS:ALL         Display all Doskey macros for all executables

   ALT+F10             Clear macro definitions

   options : for working with the Command Buffer...

   /HISTORY           : Display all commands stored in memory.
   /LISTSIZE=size     : Limit the number of commands remembered by the buffer.
   /REINSTALL         : Install a new copy of Doskey (clears the buffer).

   In normal use the command line is always in overwrite mode, DOSKEY can be used to
   change this to Insert, the insert key will always toggle from one to the other

   /INSERT           : By default new text you type at the command line
                       will be inserted in old text

   /OVERSTRIKE       : By default new text you type at the command line
                       will overwrite old

In addition to the above, DOSKEY is loaded into memory for every cmd session so
you can use the following Keystrokes at the command line

      UP and DOWN ARROWS or F8 will recall commands; 

      F7      : popup command history (enter to accept, ESC to cancel) 
 <letter>F8   : command history (commands starting with letter)
      F9      : select a command by number

      ESC     : clear command line 
      ALT+F7  : clear command history
      INSERT  : toggle Insert/Overwrite  

Pressing F8 repeatedly will cycle through all the matching commands.

The size of the command history can be set from Control Panel, Console or from 
the properties of any cmd shortcut. Clear all history with DOSKEY /REINSTALL

Examples:
A macro to open notepad
   DOSKEY note=notepad.exe

A macro to open WordPad
   DOSKEY wpad="C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories\wordpad.exe"

A macro called `d' to run dir/w
   DOSKEY d=dir/w

A macro to disable the FORMAT command
   DOSKEY FORMAT=;Ive disabled the Format command

More advanced macro definitions:

   $T     If you put more than one command in a DOSKEY macro, use $T. 
          to separate them. Equivalent to & in a batch file.

   $1-$9  Parameters, equivalent to %1-%9 in a batch file.

   $*     This represents ALL the parameters $1-9


A macro to open a file with WordPad:
DOSKEY wpad="C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories\wordpad.exe" $1
Using the above macro:
wpad MyTextfile.txt

Save and restore macro definitions

DOSKEY macros are normally only visible to the current CMD session.

The command
  doskey /macros >macros.cmd
Will list all current macro definitions into macros.cmd, edit this file
and place DOSKEY at the start of each line.

"Every time a child says they don't believe in fairies there is a little fairy somewhere that falls down and dies" - Sir James Barrie

Related commands:

The Script-It Utility (from the Windows NT Server Website) can supply keystrokes to control almost any Windows Application.

Equivalent Linux BASH commands:

m4 - Macro processor
history - Command history