# TYPE

> [HTML Version](type_lit.htm)

**TYPE <filespec> \{switches\}**

TYPE displays the specified file on the screen (similar to the _cat_ utility under Unix).

TYPE <file>/P is functionally equivalent to PAGE TYPE <file>; see the notes on [PAGE](page_lit.htm.md).

TYPE will display control characters in "caret notation" (i.e., using a printable character preceded by a ^). For example, nulls will display as ^@, escapes will display as ^\[, etc.

**Switches**

| **Switch** | **Effect of Switch** |
|------|------|
| /P | Page mode: stops after each screen page |
| /S | Slow mode: displays only ten lines per second |
| /? | Writes switch listing and usage info to the screen. |




**History**

2018 November, A-Shell 6.5.1651, TYPE.LIT 1.0(113):  has been updated to avoid a read-only error related to the smart-scrollback activation feature.

2017 July, A-Shell 6.5.1610, TYPE.LIT 1.0(112):  now makes the scroll bar visible if the environment supports it (A-Shell/Windows and ATE version 6.5.1610 or later) and the output of the command causes the screen to scroll.