join MS-DOS Command

Type: External (3.1 and later)

Syntax:

JOIN d: [d:path] JOIN d: [/D]

Purpose: Allows access to the directory structure and files of a drive through a directory on a different drive. (In DOS Version 6, this program is stored on the DOS supplemental disk.)

Discussion

After joining a drive to a directory, the files stored on the joined drives can be accessed as if they were on the specified directory.

Attempts to access the joined drive will result in the display of the error message

Invalid drive specification

If you try to join a directory containing files, the program will display the error message

Directory not empty

You cannot join the current directory. Also, you cannot join to a directory that is more than one level below a root directory or to the root directory itself. If the directory you specify in the second parameter does not exist, DOS will create it. If the directory does exist, it must be empty.

Option

/D – Used to disconnect a joined drive.

Examples

To join drive B to the directory FILES on drive A, enter

join b: a:\files

If you now ask for a directory of A:\FILES, the files stored on drive B will be displayed. After entering this command, attempts to access drive B will result in the error message Invalid drive specification To disconnect the join established in the previous example, enter

join b: /d