Running Commands
 

First i am a noob. I am trying to digest Linux as much as possible.

I am experimenting it using short tutorials people have written.

I have a annoyance though. Many commands that I know are there will not run when I am logged in. I have to always do a whereis command to find the command and then type in the full path name to execute the command. How can I avoid this and just type in the commnad from any location to get it to run?

Also when you look at a file, how do you tell if it is a commnad or just a file from the GUI interface. I knwo you can check the file and see if it has x bit turned on. But how do you there are commands or not. As an example, after you install a program into a directory you get a huge list of files in that directory. how would you know which file is the executable to run the program?

Thanks

most of yr executables are in /usr/bin,/usrlocal/bin,/sbin,/usr/sbin.

Most distr. have a special icon for apps.


be more specific. an example will help

First check your path with echo $PATH. Add directories to the path by editing .bashrc or .bash_profile in your home directory. Alternatively, create links from your programs to a directory already in your path, eg /usr/local/bin like this:

ln -s /my/directory/my_prog /usr/local/bin

You should now be able to run rhe progs by just entering their names.

As an Example when i type ifconfig it will say error command not found. So I do a whereis ifconfig. I then have to type /usr/sbin/ifconfig to get the command to run.

So in order to just be able to type the command without the full path name I have to edit the .bashrc file? What kind of entry would I have to do? I have tried using the sysm link with firefox and it works from command line now.

But how can I run the programs from a GUI? Right now the only way I can run Firefox is through the command line. I have no shortcut for it in my programs from my desktop so I have no idea on how to run programs excpet through the command line? How do I do this?

Thank You

thats what i expected.

the sbin folders contain commands that are supposed to be used only by root and are added only to roots path.

if you are a user use
su - (not just su)
to get a root prompt,
and u will have sbin in your path.

You may also use Alt+Ctrl+F1 and then login us root .u will probably have those commands in your path. (switch back to X-windows with Alt+Ctrl+F7)

type :
echo $PATH
or
env | grep PATH
to see what directories are in your path (as normal user and as root to see the difference)

in gnome, right click -> create launcher

pick a name, a generic name and in the command field type firefox. pick an icon if you like.

I don't use KDE but i think u can do that by right clicking new->application or something like that.

Thanks you. That solution worked for me to place icon on my desktop. I am using Gnome.
but whe
But it is not working when I am trying to put the command in my Internet Appilcations Menu. I add the item but when I try to save it it gives me an error. I would like to make custom folder with applications and scripts I might use to be accessible from the menus on the right hand pull up. I would like to create and customize m,y folders over there and then but my Applications in those folders instead of using the defaults.

I am using Red Hat 9.

Thanks for all the help Linux Community