Force Command is the DOS like interface people have always yearned for on the TI-99/4A.

From the wiki: https://github.com/jedimatt42/fcmd/wiki

Force Command for the TI-99/4A

Force Command is a command module for the TI-99/4A home computer from the early 80s. It is an interactive command line shell such as MSDOS ‘command.com’ for file management as well as batch scripting for the 4A.

There was prior art named 4ADOS from back in the 80s as well. However, this user found that program irritating. So I have ignored 4ADOS, and taken inspiration from the manuals of MSDOS 2.11 and my own use of MSXDOS.

Minimum Requirements

(Some features will not be available)

TI-99/4A
32K expansion ram
Some filesystem device
128K ROM Cartridge

Development System

TI-99/4A
SAMS
F18A VGA adapter
FinalGROM99
TIPI
Texas Instruments Floppy Controller

Hardware compatibility

It has been authored to support many of the pre-existing rare devices that are out there, however the author cannot test with those devices. See Compatibility for details.

Video support

The program auto-detects the F18A video processor and if present begins in enhanced attribute 80 column mode. In this mode the screen supports full ANSI graphics commands received either through [echo] commands or from displaying a file with [type] commands.

If the F18A is not detected, the program starts in 40 column mode.

The mode can be switched with the [width] command and color can also be controlled with the [color] command.

Cartridge Support

It is distributed as 2 files:

FCMDG.bin – Single GROM with program entry “AUTOCMD” and power up routine to start the ROM automatically.
FCMDC.bin – 128K ROM with program entry title: “FORCE CMD” (Non-inverted ROM file)

It is designed to be run from the FinalGROM99. However it should also work from an UberGROM. Or presently any 128K or greater eprom board sacrificing the startup GROM.

When used on a FinalGROM99, there will be 2 menu entries:

AUTOCMD
FORCE CMD

If you select AUTOCMD, the FinalGROM99 will load both the GROM autostart routine, and the primary ROM. If you select FORCE CMD, the FinalGROM99 will not load the GROM, and auto start will not be active.

Also on a FinalGROM99, the fg99 command can switch to other cartridge images.

General Use

Command keywords are case insensitive. TI file system names are case sensitive.

On startup, the program will normally detect and switch to your best video mode, display a banner, set the current working directory to the first drive device found in your system, and set you at a prompt such as:

[1100.DSK1.]
$

To list a directory of the files you have on that device use the [dir] command.

[1100.DSK1.]
$ DIR
Diskname: BLANK Available: 1440 Used: 65407

Name       Type    Reclen Sectors
---------------------------------
EDIT80     PROGRAM        32
MENU       DIS/VAR 80     1

[1100.DSK1.]
$

A list of individual commands/topics are available with the help command. You can then get a brief description by passing the topic as argument to the help command.

[1000.TIPI.]
$ help cd
cd <path>|.. - switch to a different drive or directory

For more info and development notes: https://atariage.com/forums/topic/290966-force-command-ver-117-kinda-like-commandcom-from-1985/

TI-99/4A FAQ: Software: Force Command OS