cmd.exe tab completion character set to something odd

4

Background:

I have an install of Windows XP SP3 OEM that I use often. Recently its cmd.exe somehow forgot that pressing TAB means I want to use the completion feature.

I found out how to fix this problem here, and it worked just fine.

Cause for concern:

I was surprised and confused by what the completion character was set to.

The completion character was set to the ASCII SUB character, 0x1a, or 26.

My questions:

  1. What is the ASCII SUB character, 0x1a, or 26, used for? Can I type it? Can I type it in one keystroke?
  2. What could have caused it to be set to anything else that the ASCII TAB character, 0x09, or 9?

eleven81

Posted 2010-02-16T17:28:02.953

Reputation: 12 423

Interesting, +1. – John T – 2010-02-16T17:48:26.540

Answers

4

In the context of the Windows command prompt, ASCII 26 represents an end of file character. You can type it in the command prompt by holding and releasing Alt + 2 + 6 (in that order) or Ctrl + z. It will produce ^Z (Control-Z). In other applications, you will see a right-facing arrow with the Alt combination, and the Ctrl combination likely performs an undo operation, depending on the software.

I haven't personally seen this behavior, maybe some software you installed had altered it. A very interesting problem though nonetheless!

John T

Posted 2010-02-16T17:28:02.953

Reputation: 149 037

What a pain! Although Control-Z is much shorter than Alt+Fn+K followed by Alt+Fn+O on my laptop, I'll just leave it as Tab. Thanks! – eleven81 – 2010-02-16T17:56:18.223

Glad you got things sorted out, you're more than welcome :) – John T – 2010-02-16T17:59:13.737

Asked: 2010-02-16T17:28:02.953

Viewed: 1 006 times

Active: 2010-02-16T17:55:03.933