Windows - Environment Variable

An environment variable is an operating system variable that use the hosted application to set application parameters.

They can be set on different scopes:

1. for a shell thread in a DOS command
2. for a specific user
3. global for a system

set PATH=%PATH%;C:\NiewDirectory\AndSubDirectory;

In a DOS command, the value is only available for this shell/window. Once the DOS windows/command is closed, the modified value is no more applied.

• Start / Control Panel / (Performance and Maintenance for XP) / System
• In the Advanced tab, click the Environment Variable button
• You can enter a environment variable for:
• a user session
• of for the complete system (also known as a global environment variable)

Open a Command Prompt and tape echo %ENVIRONMENT_VARIABLE_NAME%.

Example

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
 
C:\>echo %TEMP%
C:\DOCUME~1\NICOLA~1.GER\LOCALS~1\Temp