Adding to "Path"

[Steve Hayes]

Microsoft can't tell people everything, and I think they quite rightly
assume that people will take the trouble to find out the answers that
they need, by exploration, experiment, research, etc - especially things
that are of interest to only a minority of users. Microsoft even
provides free support services to help those for whom those usual
methods of self-education don't work out. Did you try them?

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[Mike Barnes]

Microsoft can't tell people everything, and I think they quite rightly
assume that people will take the trouble to find out the answers that
they need, by exploration, experiment, research, etc - especially things
that are of interest to only a minority of users. Microsoft even
provides free support services to help those for whom those usual
methods of self-education don't work out. Did you try them?

Best 30 results for set path
1. 1 Get help with "Network path not found" message
[...]
60. 60 Change Internet Explorer Advanced settings

Actually what I meant was conversing with a Microsoft support person to
whom you could put your exact question. If I was doing a text search, I
wouldn't bother with whatever it was you used, I'd use Google. I just
searched for "Windows 7 set path" and the first result says:

1. Select Computer from the Start menu
2. Choose System Properties from the context menu
3. Click Advanced system settings > Advanced tab
4. Click on Environment Variables, under System Variables, find PATH,
and click on it.
5. In the Edit windows, modify PATH by adding the location of the class
to the value for PATH. If you do not have the item PATH, you may
select to add a new variable and add PATH as the name and the
location of the class as the value

I think one reason we're not seeing eye to eye is that I suspect you
don't appreciate just how antique the concept of setting the PATH is.
It's something that concerns 0.01% of Windows 7 users, at most, I would
guess (BICBW).

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Steve Hayes <[email protected]>:
On Mon, 08 Apr 2013 05:35:31 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

On Sun, 07 Apr 2013 03:38:30 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

On Sat, 06 Apr 2013 16:55:47 -0800, Robert Baer
<[email protected]>
wrote:

(e-mail address removed) wrote:
Hi,

Windows 7 is a new experience for me since I recently
bought a Dell laptop with that OS.

I have come a long way since the Dos days, and I am
glad there is a Command Prompt where you can execute
many Dos commands (not "DELTREE")..

I always added an "AUTOEXEC.BAT" to the root directory in
my other
computers, but it is incompatible with Win7 OS.

How can I add "C:\BATCH" (a folder with many .BAT files I
created) to the "path" of locations?

Thank You in advance, John


Since Win2K, AUTOEXEC.BAT and AUTOEXEC.NT have been studiously
ignored, which is a shame; no dynamic alterations of the environment,
please - just jump in the lake.

The PATH statement in by autoexec.bat file works fine in Windows
XP on my
desktop computer.

But I had to resport to third-party software to get it to work in
Win 7, so
I've been noting the workarounds here with some interest.

They are not workarounds in Windows 7, they are the proper way to do it.

If they weren't workarounds, there would be a manual that tells you
how to do
it.

The only way you can learn about these things is through forums like
this one,
and that qualifies them as workarounds in my view.

OK, if defeating ignorance is a workaround, so be it.

No, that's not what a workaround is.

A workaround is what you do if the established way of doing things doesn't
work, then you find another way to do it.

For 25 years or more the established way of adding to the PATH is to put a
line in the Autoexec.bat file.

In Windows 7 that does not work, so you have to find a way to work
around this
limitation. Such a way of working around a limitation is called a
"workaround". Get it?

If the workaround were the proper way of doing it, then Microsoft would TELL
THEIR USERS THAT, and not leave them to discover it by chance, trial and
error, or by rumours passed on by other people.

Microsoft can't tell people everything, and I think they quite rightly
assume that people will take the trouble to find out the answers that
they need, by exploration, experiment, research, etc - especially things
that are of interest to only a minority of users. Microsoft even
provides free support services to help those for whom those usual
methods of self-education don't work out. Did you try them?

Best 30 results for set path
1. 1 Get help with "Network path not found" message
[...]
60. 60 Change Internet Explorer Advanced settings

Actually what I meant was conversing with a Microsoft support person to
whom you could put your exact question. If I was doing a text search, I
wouldn't bother with whatever it was you used, I'd use Google. I just
searched for "Windows 7 set path" and the first result says:

1. Select Computer from the Start menu
2. Choose System Properties from the context menu
3. Click Advanced system settings > Advanced tab
4. Click on Environment Variables, under System Variables, find PATH,
and click on it.
5. In the Edit windows, modify PATH by adding the location of the class
to the value for PATH. If you do not have the item PATH, you may
select to add a new variable and add PATH as the name and the
location of the class as the value

Interesting workaround

I think one reason we're not seeing eye to eye is that I suspect you
don't appreciate just how antique the concept of setting the PATH is.
It's something that concerns 0.01% of Windows 7 users, at most, I would
guess (BICBW).

And another reason is that Mr Hayes seems not to be familiar with the
idea of getting a book and reading it, something I think can be rather
helpful when trying a new thing of whatever sort.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

No, that's not what a workaround is.

A workaround is what you do if the established way of doing things doesn't
work, then you find another way to do it.

For 25 years or more the established way of adding to the PATH is to put a
line in the Autoexec.bat file.

In Windows 7 that does not work, so you have to find a way to work around this
limitation. Such a way of working around a limitation is called a
"workaround". Get it?

If the workaround were the proper way of doing it, then Microsoft would TELL
THEIR USERS THAT, and not leave them to discover it by chance, trial and
error, or by rumours passed on by other people.

I repeat, knowing that you can't hear it anyway:
*In Windows 7* the established way of doing things is by editing the
path as described in several posts here.

You might note that, like the other versions of Windows, Windows 7
doesn't come with a manual. Like the older versions (and Windows 8 too),
it places a burden on the users to do some learning.

Here's a clumsy analogy: when you first got an automatic transmission
car, did you try to install a gearshift that would bypass the automatic
controls and shift gears only when you moved the lever?

 

[Steve Hayes]

Steve Hayes <[email protected]>:
On Mon, 08 Apr 2013 05:35:31 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

On Sun, 07 Apr 2013 03:38:30 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:

On Sat, 06 Apr 2013 16:55:47 -0800, Robert Baer
<[email protected]>
wrote:

(e-mail address removed) wrote:
Hi,

Windows 7 is a new experience for me since I recently
bought a Dell laptop with that OS.

I have come a long way since the Dos days, and I am
glad there is a Command Prompt where you can execute
many Dos commands (not "DELTREE")..

I always added an "AUTOEXEC.BAT" to the root directory in
my other
computers, but it is incompatible with Win7 OS.

How can I add "C:\BATCH" (a folder with many .BAT files I
created) to the "path" of locations?

Thank You in advance, John


Since Win2K, AUTOEXEC.BAT and AUTOEXEC.NT have been studiously
ignored, which is a shame; no dynamic alterations of the environment,
please - just jump in the lake.

The PATH statement in by autoexec.bat file works fine in Windows
XP on my
desktop computer.

But I had to resport to third-party software to get it to work in
Win 7, so
I've been noting the workarounds here with some interest.

They are not workarounds in Windows 7, they are the proper way to do it.

If they weren't workarounds, there would be a manual that tells you
how to do
it.

The only way you can learn about these things is through forums like
this one,
and that qualifies them as workarounds in my view.

OK, if defeating ignorance is a workaround, so be it.

No, that's not what a workaround is.

A workaround is what you do if the established way of doing things doesn't
work, then you find another way to do it.

For 25 years or more the established way of adding to the PATH is to put a
line in the Autoexec.bat file.

In Windows 7 that does not work, so you have to find a way to work
around this
limitation. Such a way of working around a limitation is called a
"workaround". Get it?

If the workaround were the proper way of doing it, then Microsoft would TELL
THEIR USERS THAT, and not leave them to discover it by chance, trial and
error, or by rumours passed on by other people.

Microsoft can't tell people everything, and I think they quite rightly
assume that people will take the trouble to find out the answers that
they need, by exploration, experiment, research, etc - especially things
that are of interest to only a minority of users. Microsoft even
provides free support services to help those for whom those usual
methods of self-education don't work out. Did you try them?

Best 30 results for set path
1. 1 Get help with "Network path not found" message
[...]
60. 60 Change Internet Explorer Advanced settings

Actually what I meant was conversing with a Microsoft support person to
whom you could put your exact question. If I was doing a text search, I
wouldn't bother with whatever it was you used, I'd use Google. I just
searched for "Windows 7 set path" and the first result says:

1. Select Computer from the Start menu
2. Choose System Properties from the context menu
3. Click Advanced system settings > Advanced tab
4. Click on Environment Variables, under System Variables, find PATH,
and click on it.
5. In the Edit windows, modify PATH by adding the location of the class
to the value for PATH. If you do not have the item PATH, you may
select to add a new variable and add PATH as the name and the
location of the class as the value

Interesting workaround

I think one reason we're not seeing eye to eye is that I suspect you
don't appreciate just how antique the concept of setting the PATH is.
It's something that concerns 0.01% of Windows 7 users, at most, I would
guess (BICBW).

And another reason is that Mr Hayes seems not to be familiar with the
idea of getting a book and reading it, something I think can be rather
helpful when trying a new thing of whatever sort.

But the main reason is that Mr Bloch is a troll who is simply looking for a
fight by coming on to newsgroups and spoutintg personal abuse at other people
he knows nothing about.

 

[Mellowed]

But the main reason is that Mr Bloch is a troll who is simply looking for a
fight by coming on to newsgroups and spoutintg personal abuse at other people
he knows nothing about.

Well that is an observation that is NOT apparent based upon reading his
contributions over a period of time.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

I think one reason we're not seeing eye to eye is that I suspect you
don't appreciate just how antique the concept of setting the PATH is.
It's something that concerns 0.01% of Windows 7 users, at most, I would
guess (BICBW).

It's clear that I can't guess the percentage, but I do know that on
installing upgrades to the Java Development Kit, I've had to edit
several environment variables to point to the new installations.
Obviously, any Java developers would have to be part of that 0.01%.

The variables in question are PATH and CLASSPATH.

Disclaimer: I upgrade the environment variables much more than I
actually develop Java code

As for how antique setting the path is, I can only add that I am much
happier without having to reckon with autoexec.bat and config.sys

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

But the main reason is that Mr Bloch is a troll who is simply looking for a
fight by coming on to newsgroups and spoutintg personal abuse at other people
he knows nothing about.

If you got and read a book, you might be able to learn how to stay
safely clear of my bridge.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Well that is an observation that is NOT apparent based upon reading his
contributions over a period of time.

Thanks, Mellowed.

Although my tone was possibly sarcastic, I (and others here) did
actually give Mr Hayes some good advice. Will he take any of it to
heart?

 

[Dave-UK]

Thanks, Mellowed.

Although my tone was possibly sarcastic, I (and others here) did
actually give Mr Hayes some good advice. Will he take any of it to
heart?

So, you're just coming on here looking for a fight! LOL!
It should be Bruiser Bloch instead of Stumbling Bloch.

 

[Mike Barnes]

It's clear that I can't guess the percentage, but I do know that on
installing upgrades to the Java Development Kit, I've had to edit
several environment variables to point to the new installations.
Obviously, any Java developers would have to be part of that 0.01%.

Indeed, the Google result that I quoted earlier was to do with Java. I'm
pleased to be able to ignore Java's existence.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

So, you're just coming on here looking for a fight! LOL!
It should be Bruiser Bloch instead of Stumbling Bloch.

Well, it's true - if I stumble and happen to fall on you, you'll be
bruised.

Ask not for whom the Stumbler trolls: he trolls for you.

 

[Bob I]

If they weren't workarounds, there would be a manual that tells you how to do
it.

The only way you can learn about these things is through forums like this one,
and that qualifies them as workarounds in my view.

Perhaps you could bother yourself to type PATH in the Search/run box?

 

[charlie]

Here's a clumsy analogy: when you first got an automatic transmission
car, did you try to install a gearshift that would bypass the automatic
controls and shift gears only when you moved the lever?

No, But for drag racing, we added a button that locked out the gear
change when pressed.

 

[Steve Hayes]

I think one reason we're not seeing eye to eye is that I suspect you
don't appreciate just how antique the concept of setting the PATH is.
It's something that concerns 0.01% of Windows 7 users, at most, I would
guess (BICBW).

Well the existence of this thread shows that some people still find it useful.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Indeed, the Google result that I quoted earlier was to do with Java. I'm
pleased to be able to ignore Java's existence.

That's amusing

Myself, I like the option of being able to write an occasional simple
and useless program.

 

[Mike Barnes]

Well the existence of this thread shows that some people still find it useful.

You won't find me disagreeing with that - I see no conflict between
"0.01%" and "some".

But I'm interested to know in what way you find it useful, if you do.

 

[Larry__Weiss]

Well the existence of this thread shows that some people still find it useful.

Even PowerShell uses PATH.

Now, lets talk about PATHEXT. <grin>

 

[Steve Hayes]

You won't find me disagreeing with that - I see no conflict between
"0.01%" and "some".

But I'm interested to know in what way you find it useful, if you do.

Mainly because I like to keep my batch files in a separate directory, rather
than in the C:\windows one, or wherever the default path in Windows 7 points
to.

And I also like to keep certain utility programs in a separate directory. They
usually augment command-line commands. And I like to be able to call them from
anywhere, without having to type the full path each time.

 

[Mike Barnes]

Mainly because I like to keep my batch files in a separate directory, rather
than in the C:\windows one, or wherever the default path in Windows 7 points
to.

I understand that desire, but I think most people don't have batch files
any more, and if they do, they create shortcuts to them and use those.

And I also like to keep certain utility programs in a separate directory.
Naturally.

They
usually augment command-line commands. And I like to be able to call them from
anywhere, without having to type the full path each time.

So the fundamental reason seems to be that you prefer the command line
to the Windows way of doing things. I'd say that the command line in
Windows is generally the preserve of techies, but you're not a techie,
and that's why things seem so hard.