Rating: 
Summary: Not Just for NT Professionals
Review: I am new to NT (Windows 2000) and use the system at home, not at work. I made good use of the DOS command line before Windows 3.0 was introduced and was pleasantly surprised to find that the Windows 2000 command shell includes all of the features DOS had, and more, some of which Windows 95 eliminated, and which Windows 98 eliminated more of.This book gave me insight into the aditional abilities of the NT command shell. Since I use Windows 2000, which was released after the publication of this book, I also make frequent reference to online help. I have found that Windows 2000 has command shell enhancements not found in Windows NT 4. This book's strength is that it shows you how to create libraries of routines for use in batch files and that it gathers in one place a wealth of information about command-line scripting with batch files. It revealed to me that batch files can do much more than I thought previously. I was a bit dismayed, however, when the author stated that there was no way to echo a blank line to the console. A feature introduced in DOS 5.0, and well documented, is the use of the echo. command (echo followed by a dot with no space). This works just as well with cmd.exe as with command.com. Other than that this is a great book. If you want a complete reference for scripting in Windows NT and Windows 2000, get this book and "Windows Scripting Secrets". Together with the online reference they provide all the information you could want about scripting using the command line and Windows Script Host.
Rating:
Summary: Not Just for NT Professionals
Review: I am new to NT (Windows 2000) and use the system at home, not at work. I made good use of the DOS command line before Windows 3.0 was introduced and was pleasantly surprised to find that the Windows 2000 command shell includes all of the features DOS had, and more, some of which Windows 95 eliminated, and which Windows 98 eliminated more of. This book gave me insight into the aditional abilities of the NT command shell. Since I use Windows 2000, which was released after the publication of this book, I also make frequent reference to online help. I have found that Windows 2000 has command shell enhancements not found in Windows NT 4. This book's strength is that it shows you how to create libraries of routines for use in batch files and that it gathers in one place a wealth of information about command-line scripting with batch files. It revealed to me that batch files can do much more than I thought previously. I was a bit dismayed, however, when the author stated that there was no way to echo a blank line to the console. A feature introduced in DOS 5.0, and well documented, is the use of the echo. command (echo followed by a dot with no space). This works just as well with cmd.exe as with command.com. Other than that this is a great book. If you want a complete reference for scripting in Windows NT and Windows 2000, get this book and "Windows Scripting Secrets". Together with the online reference they provide all the information you could want about scripting using the command line and Windows Script Host.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome book. Invaluable Information
Review: I come to NT shell scripting from a UNIX background. This book gave me the information I needed to know to write effective NT shell scripts. At first I tried to use my old DOS manuals but the scripts I wrote didn't work since things have changed. This book gave me the updated information I needed to accomplish my tasks. It is clearly written and extremely well organized. The book serves as both tutorial and reference.
Rating: 
Summary: The essential reference for Windows NT users and admins
Review: I designed this book as a complete learning and reference tool for Windows NT shell scripts and automation. If you administer or use Windows NT on a regular basis, you'll find that using the scripting techniques in the book will dramatically reduce your workload, and improve system robustness and ease of use. The book includes ready-to-use scripts for user management and system monitoring, file replication, disk quota management, and several sample logon scripts (and even a game!). Also, the book contains a complete reference to all Windows NT and Resource Kit commands, including many new and previously undocumented features. Those of you who think that Windows NT scripts are just MSDOS batch files will find that the new features in the Windows NT shell make the script language capable of many new tricks, such as capturing and processing command output and using libraries of script routines. I think you will find the book a valuable addition to your reference library!
Rating: 
Summary: A good reference guide to have
Review: I had no knowledge of NT scripting before I read this book. Now I can understand and write basic scripts without much difficulty. Found some inconsistencies within the book but otherwise, I would definitely recommend it. Alphabetical listing of commands in back of the book is very handy.
Rating:
Summary: If you know what cmd.exe is, you need this book.
Review: I have throuwn out all other scipting books for the NT command line, and made it required reading for all my network engineers. If you don't find anything usefull on a page, re-read the page, you are missing something. My only complaint is that they havn't come out with this book on CD, as there are times that I don't have one of my many copies close at hand.
Rating:
Summary: Just what the doctor ordered
Review: I knew a book of this type had to exist - and was very surprised that such a reference was so hard to find! Are most NT Admins out there REALLY pointing and clicking their way through every single mundane task? Luckily, when I did find it, it turned out to be just what I needed. Now, given the in-depth documentation and examples I need, I can construct scripts to take a lot of the tedium out of my job, as well as increase my accuracy and repeatability (scripts never zone out and forget to place that critical checkmark, as I sometimes do). Mr. Hill and Macmillan Technical Press have provided me with an invaluable resource. I hope they keep up the good work. On thing, though: I wish they'd put the text of the book on a CD-ROM, to lighten my travelling kit (I'm a consultant).
Rating:
Summary: Invaluable
Review: I like this book because unlike many technical books, the first three chapters aren't a pedestrian introduction to the basic fundamentals. This book spends chapter 1 with insight, similar to the way Applied Cryptography immediately gives you knowledge. I'm an experienced NT command shell user, and this book was valuable for me as well.
The DOS shell has become a requirement and skill relegated to the background by the direction of Microsoft curriculum, this book explains it and teaches it. The authors instructions are easy to follow, without doting like the Teach Yourself "whatever" in 24 hour books, Tim Hill doesn't waste your time, or your money.
Rating: 
Summary: This book is out of date!
Review: I purchased this book based on the reviews which I usually trust.This book is way out of date, this type of scripting has been well super-seded by Windows Scripting Host, or even Kix scripting. These languages are far more logical to learn and trouble shoot then "if %t:=01" style of language. To be honest, the photo on the book cover sums the book up, a photo from the 40's of a guy oiling a turtle! dated!
Rating:
Summary: It's the place to look to first...
Review: I spent many hours spread out over many weeks finding bits of information about shell scripting from disparate sources. Once I found this book I didn't need to look anywhere else.
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