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create a variable in the .bashrc file in my home directory

I need to create a varaible ($DOC) in the .bashrc file in my home directory (/home/machinename/)as a shortcut to the files in /usr/share/doc
The variable should be called DOC

I am using Red Hat 3.0 workstation

I thought I had the correct command. I used vi editor on .bashrc
I inserted the command
path=$path:/usr/share/doc/

You need to export variable if they are to be used by processes other than the shell itself. Also, note that variable names are case sensitive - path is not the same as PATH.

For example:

Code:

myvar="something"

program_1

export myvar

program_2

Here program_1 cannot see myvar in the environment, but program_2 can.

You can do it all in one go like this:

Code:

export myvar="something"

Note that you will probably have to log out and back in again before variables which are set in your .bashrc are usable.

You could also create a symlink to /usr/share/doc:
For example:
ln -s /usr/share/doc ~/sysdocs