tar goes to >

simple · 07-31-2005, 07:04 AM

when i try to untar a .bz2 the prompt turns into >.. not sure why, can anybody explain that?

Code:

simple@elemental!$: tar -xjf 19506-pinux's-tux-cursors-theme-0.3-cur.tar.bz2
>

i can type anything at the > and nothing happens. just goes to a new line started with >

Nathanael · 07-31-2005, 07:17 AM

you need a backslash infront of the quote...
like this:
tar -xjf 19506-pinux\'s-tux-cursors-theme-0.3-cur.tar.bz2
if you type
tar -xjf 19506
do not press enter just yet...
but hit tab 1, or 2 times it will automatically add the rest of the filename

simple · 07-31-2005, 07:21 AM

ah lol.. thanks. what's the ' doing?

Nathanael · 07-31-2005, 07:49 AM

you start a string as a single cml parameter where spaces and other stuff is allowed tar (and any other program would to) came up with the >
waiting for you to close the string with another '

eddiebaby1023 · 07-31-2005, 04:18 PM

The '>' is from your PS2 variable, which is the shell's way to show that you're continuing the command on another line. This usually happens when you start a quoted string, and haven't closed it before you hit enter. Try typing
[code[
echo "one
two
three"
[/code]
and see the prompt change. PS1 is the one you usually see, and PS3 and PS4 are also defined. man bash for more details than you want to see.