How do I edit .profile?

orly · 08-19-2004, 05:28 AM

Hi,

It's my first day working with Linux... I am installing some SW and in the
README file it says:

Add these lines to your .profile or .bash_profile files (if using
sh or bash): ....

How do I do it? I'm not even sure if I have bash or sh.

Thanks.

linmix · 08-19-2004, 05:35 AM

Open a terminal (you can, can't you?)
write:

ls -a

andyou'llget a list of all thefiles in your home directory. You'll be able to see which file youhave to edit (.profile or .bash_profile

then type (for example)

emacs .profile

(change emacs for the editorofyour choice) Make and save changes and you're ready...

shengchieh · 08-19-2004, 01:40 PM

Another way is to force a GUI editor to read the file.
For example, open Text Editor (or Kedit, Kate, whatever).
Then File->Open... and wiggle to the file you want
opened.

If you click the file from any file manager (My Home,
My Computer, whatever), the file association, defined
in the control center, overrides.

Sheng-Chieh

linmix · 08-19-2004, 02:50 PM

there's one snag though... your file manager must be configured to see hidden files (the ones that start with a dot)