Basic Unix Survival Information

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Basic Window Survival

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• An xterm is your basic command line--a terminal window

• Scroll Bars

• The root menu (left-click the desktop)

• Moving/Resizing Windows

• Iconifying/Restoring Windows

• Resizing

• Middle-Clicking

• The "Window Operations" menu

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General Format of Unix Commands

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% <command> [<options/args>] [<files>]

Examples:

    ls
    ls -l
    ls -l myfile
    ls -ld mydir
    ls -l -d mydir

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Getting Help On-Line

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• For a particular command, type:

          % man <command-name>
  

• For all commands on a general topic:

          % man -k <keyword/topic>
  

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Command Line Tips

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• We are using "ksh" as our command shell.

• Normally, command line is in vi "insert mode", <Delete> key deletes previous character.

• <escape> switches to vi "command mode".

• Use h/l keys to move left/right in line (command mode).

• x/X deletes character under/before cursor.

• To insert/append text, type i/a <text> <escape>.

• <return> executes edited command line.

• To recall previous commands for editing/re-execution, use <escape>, then k/j keys.

• Default command prompt includes machine name and current working directory name for reference.

• As you learn about vi, many of its editing functions will also work on the command line (some to try: w, W, b, B, e, E, dw, de, D, 0, A, etc.).

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Other Command Line Features

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• Typing <escape>\ will cause the shell to try to complete the file or program name you are currently typing.

• Typing <escape>= will instead list all possible completions that are available at the current cursor position.

• Typing <escape>* will insert all possible file name completions on the command line.

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New Account Environment

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• New accounts are tailored with some basic settings to make things easier.
• Many MS-DOS commands will work through "aliases".
• Type "alias" to see all aliases.
• Commands with arguments can be aliased: alias ls='ls -F' .
• Other features are tailored through environment variables.

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Navigating Through Directories

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    pwd			-- print current (working) directory
    cd <dir>		-- change directory to <dir>
    cd ~-		-- change to previous working directory
    ls [<dir>]		-- list directory contents
    cp <src> <dest>	-- copy file(s)
    mv <src> <dest>	-- move file(s)
    rm <file>		-- remove file(s)
    rmdir <dir>		-- remove directory(s)
    mkdir <dir>		-- make directory(s)
    cat <file>		-- display file contents on standard output
    more <file>		-- display/browse one page at a time

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Other Helpful Commands

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which <command>

Searches your command path for the given command, telling you which directory (if any) it is found in.

whereis <command>

Asks the operating system where common places to keep commands are, and searches them for the given command; on some Unix versions, will also uncover manual pages, source files, etc.