Learning the UNIX Operating System, Fourth Edition

Format

The following sections describe the conventions used in this handbook.

Commands

We introduce each main concept, then break it down into task-oriented sections. Each section shows the best command to use for a task, explains what it does, and the syntax (the way to put the command line together). The syntax is given like this:

rm filename

Commands appear in boldface type (in this example, rm). You should type the command exactly as it appears in the example. The variable parts (here, filename) will appear in italic type; you must supply your own value. To enter this command, you would type rm followed by a space and the name of the file that you want to remove, then press the RETURN key. (Your keyboard may have a key labeled ENTER, or an arrow with a right-angle shaft, instead of a RETURN key.) Throughout this book, the term enter means to type a command and press RETURN to run it.

Examples

Examples show what should happen as you enter a command. Some examples assume that you’ve created certain files. If you haven’t, you may not get the results shown.

We use typewriter-style characters for examples. Items you type to try the example are boldface. System messages and responses are normal text.

Here’s an example:

% date
Tue Nov  4 13:39:24 EST 1997
%

The character “%” is the shell (system) prompt. To do this example, you would type date and then press RETURN. The date command responds “Tue Nov 4 13:39:24 EST 1997” and then returns you to the prompt.

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