add a directory to PATH

HarryBoy · 05-02-2008, 12:00 PM

I am using Fedora, how do I add a directory to my PATH. Do I do it in bashrc or bash_profile?

What syntax to I use when adding this?

Thanks

harry

sirclif · 05-02-2008, 12:14 PM

you put it in your .bashrc file. to add the directory /home/usr/bin to your path, you would just add

PATH="$PATH:/home/usr/bin"
export PATH

the $PATH part makes sure you keep all the other directories in your path. the PATH variable is a string containing directories seperated by colons (

, so it will look like

echo $PATH
/usr/bin:/home/usr/bin:/other/directories/bin

etc.

HarryBoy · 05-02-2008, 12:19 PM

Thanks for your reply,

at the minute my file looks like this:

# .bashrc

# Source global definitions
if [ -f /etc/bashrc ]; then
. /etc/bashrc
fi

# User specific aliases and functions

where would this new path be inserted??

Thanks again for your help

Harry

dv502 · 05-02-2008, 12:22 PM

Also, to take effect you must logout and login again or
run source /etc/.bashrc

The source command can reread the .bashrc file without you exiting.

Note: Sometimes the PATH variable is in /etc/profile

sirclif · 05-02-2008, 12:30 PM

put it after

# User specific aliases and functions

Quote:

Note: Sometimes the PATH variable is in /etc/profile

if you want to change the PATH variable system-wide (for all users), you would want to change it there. if you only want to change if for you account, or you don't have root access, but it in your .bashrc file.

HarryBoy · 05-02-2008, 12:39 PM

thanks a million guys