I've just started using Slackware 8.1 and I've installed a program called CVIPTools which I need for university work. At the end of the installation script it said it couldn't update my paths and I'd have to do it manually.

So, I read the readme again and it says:
""""""""
In case you are not able to execute CVIPtools even after
successful compilation check whether the environment variables
are properly set up (see CVIPTOOLS ENVIRONMENT below). In case
they are not set, include them in the .cshrc (or .profile, or
.bashrc, or .kcshrc, depending on the type of shell you are
using) file. Note that these are set with the 'setenv' command,
examples:

setenv CVIPHOME /home/CVIPtools
setenv CVIP_IMGPATH $CVIPHOME/Images/CHAP1:$CVIPHOME/Images/COVER
""""""""

I'm using bash (I have a ~/.bash_history) but no .bashrc.

Two questions:
1: Shall I just create one myself?
2: How do I add these variables?

no need to create one, just type the following in your shell ...

and if you need to add anymore just use the format ...

to view your currently set enviroment vars simple type "set" at a prompt

cheers

Thanks, but I think I've got a different problem than I first thought. I reinstalled it so I could get the error message, it says:

********CVIPtools setup:********
Adding environment variables and path information...
awk: Command not found.
Error: Could not recognize your default shell
Looked for /bin/sh, /bin/ksh, /bin/csh, /bin/tcsh, /usr/local/bin/tcsh
You will need to manually edit the equivalent of your .profile or
.cshrc file

Now I know my shell is /bin/bash, yet it didn't even look here!

What is my equivalent of .profile or .cshrc? Is it the (empty) .bashrc I just created?

I really don't know what to do as the readme is little help, but I really need to use this program.

Well it seems to me that this program does not run under the bash shell which is extremly odd. You could possible try switching shells to one of the shells CVIPtools is looking for and then try to re-install it.

Fire up your Slack install CD, install gawk if you haven't already. I do believe slack creates the symlink for you to awk, if not go ahead and do it:
ln -sf /usr/bin/gawk /usr/bin/awk

Then, you can create a .profile if you'd like, or you can edit /etc/profile for everyone on the system to have that variable. Same with .bashrc you can create that as well.

FYI... Look at /bin/sh and notice where it's pointing: bash. So if you've got bash installed, then /bin/sh should execute bash.

Cool

Cheers MasterC! I've got a lot of info to be going on with later - I'm currently in 98 as I've got CVIPtools working in that instead (for now).

btw, it took me about half an hour getting it to work in windows because it was all messed up after installation. I think it might just be a badly made installer.

Let me know how things work out for ya. There are also several threads over in the Slack forum on using .bashrc and sourcing it. You should check them out as well since there is a small trick involved IIRC.

Cool