Windows: How to specify multiline command on command prompt?

Question

how do we extend a command to next line?

basically whats the windows alternative for linux\'s

ls -l \\
/usr/

here we use backslash

Answer 1

In the Windows Command Prompt the ^ is used to escape the next character on the command line. (Like \ is used in strings.) Characters that need to be used in the command line as they are should have a ^ prefixed to them, hence that's why it works for the newline.

For reference the characters that need escaping (if specified as command arguments and not within quotes) are: &|()

So the equivalent of your linux example would be (the More? being a prompt):

C:\> dir ^
More? C:\Windows