When using the command processor in the DOS window, you can have Windows NT complete the file name for you by pressing the Tab key when you have partially typed in a file name or directory handle. This is similar to the Unix ability to complete a filename when you press the Esc key after typing in a partial filename. The version in Windows NT is actually more advanced in that it will cycle through multiple file names that match your partial specification. For example, if you entered "edit filename" and press the Tab key repeatedly, the system will replace "filename" with the fully qualified filenames that match this pattern in your directory such as "filename.txt", "filename.doc", and "filename2.txt". When you have found the filename that you want, just press Enter to proceed.
You can specify which character is used to complete the partial filename by editing the Registry directly. Editing the Registry should be done only by experienced users and with extreme care and the Registry should always be exported or backed up before any changes are made.
1. Start the REGEDT32.EXE program.
2. Go to the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor\CompletionChar
3. Double click the key and set its value to 9 for the Tab character to be used.