setting a path

mjkramer · 11-18-2004, 02:03 AM

how do i change the path to include a command for a program i want to run? i want the path to include this command every time i log into linux.

PenguinPwrdBox · 11-18-2004, 02:05 AM

Add the directory into your path, or symlink the program into an existing folder in your path.
You can add the directory to your path by editing /etc/profile.
Once you have saved, at the command line:

Code:

user@machine$ source profile

scottman · 11-18-2004, 02:07 AM

There is quite a few ways to do this. When you type a command, bash searches your PATH variable.

# echo $PATH

You can either put your program in one of those folders, or change your PATH to include it's current directory. Your best bet is to just cp your executable to /bin

mjkramer · 11-18-2004, 02:12 AM

ok, i have no idea what im looking at, other than general programming knowledge. here is my profile file:

Code:

# /etc/profile -*- Mode: shell-script -*-  # (c) MandrakeSoft, Chmouel Boudjnah

 <chmouel@mandrakesoft.com>  loginsh=1  # Users generally won't see annoyng 

core files [ "$UID" = "0" ] && ulimit -S -c 1000000 > /dev/null 2>&1  if ! echo ${PATH} 

|grep -q /usr/X11R6/bin ; then     PATH="$PATH:/usr/X11R6/bin" fi  if [ "$UID" -ge 500 ] 

&& ! echo ${PATH} |grep -q /usr/games ; then     export PATH=$PATH:/usr/games fi  

umask 022  USER=`id -un` LOGNAME=$USER MAIL="/var/spool/mail/$USER" 

HISTCONTROL=ignoredups HOSTNAME=`/bin/hostname` HISTSIZE=1000  if [ -z 

"$INPUTRC" -a ! -f "$HOME/.inputrc" ]; then     INPUTRC=/etc/inputrc fi  # some old 

programs still use it (eg: "man"), and it is also # required for level1 compliance for 

LI18NUX2000 NLSPATH=/usr/share/locale/%l/%N  export PATH PS1 USER 

LOGNAME MAIL HOSTNAME INPUTRC NLSPATH export HISTCONTROL HISTSIZE   

for i in /etc/profile.d/*.sh ; do  if [ -x $i ]; then   . $i  fi done  unset i

exactly where, how, and what should be placed into this script?

mjkramer · 11-18-2004, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by scottman
There is quite a few ways to do this. When you type a command, bash searches your PATH variable.

# echo $PATH

You can either put your program in one of those folders, or change your PATH to include it's current directory. Your best bet is to just cp your executable to /bin

ahh, cause bin is already included in path? geeze, that is quite a task. see, this is my first day using linux. i took a linux class in college about 5 years ago, but it was all book and no hands on. im assuming i can't just copy the file to run the program into bin but would have to actually move all the related files into bin as well. geeze. you say in order to copy i use the command 'cp'?

yea, see, it said, "cannot find runtime directory.." something or other. i put the executable file into bin but it cant locate the other components it needs i assume.

IBall · 11-18-2004, 02:52 AM

You should simply create a symbolic link to the executable in /usr/bin (/bin is for programs like ls, mv, etc):

Code:

ln -s /path/to/executable /usr/bin

This way, you are not adding extra files to a directory which is set aside for binary's. You will need to be root to do this, since you are making system wide changes.

To add a directory to your path, add the following lines to the bottom of ~/.bash_profile (For just your user)

Code:

PATH=/path/to/new/directory:$PATH
export PATH

Then run the command "source .bash_profile" and the new directory will be added to your path, and will be available each time you log in.

If you have only one executable in a directory (eg Firefox or something similar), use the symbolic link, while if you have a directory with lots of executables (eg Java Bin directory) then add it to your path.

I hope this helps
--Ian

scottman · 11-18-2004, 05:26 AM

IBall's link solution is actually better than my cp solution. This is because if the executable looks for dependant files relative to it's location it would fail (in my solution). The link would cause the executable to be executed from it's original location, preserving any directory path's. Sorry if my solution caused any problems.

mjkramer · 11-18-2004, 03:54 PM

got it all figured out. thanks

IBall · 11-18-2004, 07:35 PM

~/ means to look in the current users home directory.

The dot in froto of .bash_profile means that it is a hidden file - means that it is not displayed unless you want it to be. do a "ls -a" to see all the hidden files in a directory. Bash has 3 config files, .bash_profile, .profile and .bashrc. You can use any one of them.

To add multiple directories to your path:

Code:

PATH=$PATH:/directory/one:/directory/two
export PATH

ie: each directory is separated by a colon.

I hope this helps
--Ian