update svn in windows explorer address bar, how to keep CMD open

Question

This is a very common question. Here's a new spin to it:

I usually run commands directly in windows explorer windows (i.e. where you type the path in windows explorer). I often find myself typing e.g. svn update but then can't read the ouput. Unfortunately common fixes like svn update & pause or && pause don't seem to have any effect.

why is this? And what could a possible fix be without registry modifications?

Answer 1

Commands you type in the address bar are not executed from within a 'DOS prompt', so pause, which is a DOS command, is never going to work. It's basically the same as typing Win + R, and then running the pause command. Try it and you will see what I mean.

There are some workarounds though:

One way would be to type cmd /k svn update. The cmd command starts a DOS prompt, and specifying the /k parameter will cause it to not be closed after the command is executed. Run cmd /h from a command prompt to see help about all parameters.

Another option is to create a batch file containing the commands, e.g.

svn update
pause

and then run that batch file from the address bar.

A third idea: Just type cmd, and keep the command prompt open as long as you need it. This has the advantage that you can use the command history. For instance type ↑ Enter to repeat the last command.