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Old 12-13-2002, 11:50 AM   #1
wr3ck3d
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how do you view


How do you view a README or INSTALL file from the terminal?? every place i searched for installing software tutorials assumes that you already know how...-thanks
 
Old 12-13-2002, 12:03 PM   #2
trickykid
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less INSTALL
more INSTALL


Its the less or more commands that are easiest to use and view. If its not a big file you can also use cat.
 
Old 12-13-2002, 12:06 PM   #3
rioguia
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there are several terminal editors
vi
pico
joe

i use vi

cd (to the directory of your file)
at the prompt type:
vi filename

when you are done hit Esc
type
q!
[return]

this same editor will allow you to edit your linux config files. it would be a good idea to learn one.

if you have an x windows session open and are using a virtual terminal, you can use a gui editor gedit (for gnome)

Last edited by rioguia; 12-13-2002 at 12:07 PM.
 
Old 12-13-2002, 02:43 PM   #4
wr3ck3d
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ok, thanks...i tried the less INSTALL and more INSTALL commands but they seem the same...what is the difference?? -thanks agin
 
Old 12-13-2002, 04:14 PM   #5
jglen490
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The "less" is a pager, meaning you can go up and down the file.
 
Old 12-13-2002, 06:18 PM   #6
acid_kewpie
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but frequently they ARE the same program (more being turned into a pseudonym for less)
 
Old 12-14-2002, 09:02 AM   #7
pilot1
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Use pico filename to edit the file, vi will also work but pico is much easier for newbies. To view the file you can also type "cat filename | more" which is probably the same as just typing more filename..
 
Old 12-14-2002, 09:55 AM   #8
trickykid
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Basically the big difference I see is when using less, you'll stay within view of the file until you hit Q to exit out. With more, if you keep scrolling down to the end of the file, you'll end back up at a prompt.
 
Old 12-14-2002, 10:13 AM   #9
JStew
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actually less is a more clone... although there is actually a bit (albeit not a lot) more things you can do with less
 
Old 12-14-2002, 05:35 PM   #10
jenna_h
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If you want a graphical program, you could use "gless", this pops a window up with your text in it. If you want to edit the text, gedit or gxedit work pretty good.
 
Old 12-15-2002, 08:39 PM   #11
jazzclubber
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Use a viewer to see an install or a readme file, not an editor - you have no reason to change the file, besides which viewers are simpler to use. more and less are both good - you can move a screen at a time in more, one direction only, by hitting the space bar, a line at a time with the return key. Scroll up and down in less with the up and down arrows, back a full screen (very useful to just go back read something again) with control+b - b on its own works on some files but not all to scroll back a screen in more. I have no idea why it only works sometimes. cat is only useful for files not larger than one screen in size.

Add in what trickykid said and you've about got the lot. The attractions of those viewers is how simple they are to use. Less has the advantage of going backwards as well as forwards, except for those files where b works in more, and it stays in the file when you reach the end. That's minor, because the up arrow from the command prompt will give you the more command again, anyway. Exit either at any time with the q key. Note the keys cited, b and q, are lower case.

BTW, to use any of them, using more as the example, at the command prompt type more /pathtofile/nameoffile and hit return.

Last edited by jazzclubber; 12-15-2002 at 08:54 PM.
 
  


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