DOS Commands - CHCP

CHCP

Displays or changes the code page number, which determines the character set DOS uses to display and print characteristics.

DOSspeak:

CHCP [nnn]

where nnn is a code page number as follows:

Code Page Number                     Code Page Used
-------------------------------------------------------------------

      437                                     American(English)
      850                                          Multilingual        
      860                                          Portuguese
      863                                       French-Canadian
      865                                             Nordic

If you omit the code page number parameter, DOS displays the current code page.

Sample:

Let's say that cousin Olaf comes to visit from Norway, and he wants to use your computer to write a letter back home. You can change the code page to Nordic by entering

chcp 865

Then, to make sure that both Olaf and your computer are now on the same code page, you can enter:

chcp

and DOS displays

Active code page: 865