Question

Source:http://jpsoft.com/help/index.htm?alias.htm

Aliases can use command line
parameters or parameters like those in
batch files. The command line
parameters are numbered from %0 to
%511. (%0 contains the alias name.)

For example, the following alias will
change directories, perform a command,
and return to the original directory:

alias in pushd %1 & %2$ & popd

when i run the above, my command prompt gives error saying

%1 * Unable to read value of alias *
‘%2’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
‘popd`’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

if you use double quote instead, alias in “pushd %1 & dir & popd”
it doesn’t interprets the %1 when you execute the alias

C:\abc\def>alias
Dumping all defined aliases for CMD.EXE.
in =pushd %1 & dir & popd

alias def wont work

———EDIT————
let me try some sample output with a simple echo alias

D:\abc\def>alias /?

Usage: ALIAS [-v] [-p programName] [-f filespec] [ ]

         [-v] means verbose output.

         [-d] means delete aliases.

         [-p programName] specifies which image file name these alias

                          definitions are for.  Default is CMD.EXE

         [-f filespec] specifies a file which contains the alises.

C:\Office\dev15>alias out ‘echo %1’

%1′ * Unable to read value of alias *

C:\Office\dev15>alias out backtick echo %1 backtick

%1` * Unable to read value of alias *

C:\Office\dev15>alias out “echo %1”

C:\Office\dev15>alias

Dumping all defined aliases for CMD.EXE.

out             =echo %1

C:\Office\dev15>out abc

%1

C:\Office\dev15>alias out echo %1

%1 * Unable to read value of alias *

C:\Office\dev15>out abc

ECHO is on.

Problem is,
both single quote and back tick produces error,
while double quote wont treat %1 as variable parameter
also tried with none of the quotes.
still wouldnot work

Answer 1

Okay, try this (use copy and paste):

   alias dtxt = `pushd %1 & dir %2$ & popd`

This sets the alias ‘dtxt‘ to the following commands:

   pushd %1
   dir %2
   popd

Pay particular attention to the inverted single quotes (`) around the alias definition. This is found on the top-left key on the ISO (UK) and ANSI (US) keyboards.

You will need to supply two parameters, %1 and %2 when executing dtxt – a target pathname, and a parameter for the DIR command as in the following examples:

   dtxt c:\temp *.txt

In a nutshell, PUSHD pushes the current working directory name onto a LIFO stack and changes directory to c:\temp.

The DIR command then executes with %2 as it’s parameter – in this case ‘*.txt‘.

Finally, POPD restores the previous working directory by popping it off the stack.

FYI, this is equivalent to the following standard DOS command:

   dir c:\temp\*.txt

The following command in standard DOS will also work fine:

   pushd & dir *.txt & popd

But obviously, ‘dtxt‘ is shorter and saves keystrokes!