Hi, need help with a jave question:

trying to export the path /usr/local/jdk/bin/ to my profile I guess, so I can use javac and what not, all those important java tools. When i use the command "export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/jdk/bin" and then I type export to view the file, it is in there, but then when I type "source /etc/profile" to "reload" my profile like the instructions I was given said it would, it erases the path I just entered into the profile. I even checked it by typing "javac" afer I put it in, and it worked, then I typed the source command again, and tried typing "javac" again, and nothing. Can anyone help me with why this is just erasing the path I put in, instead of "reloading"? Thanks.

- Mike

You added that export line to /etc/profile and 'source'ing it doesn't work?

yup, this is exactly what I typed and what came out:

root@macavelimc: export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/jdk/bin
root@macavelimc: javac

- bunch-o-javac stuff printed out -

root@macavelimc: source /etc/profile
root@macavelimc: javac
bash: javac: command not found


also, if I typed the export line, and then close the root window, and open it again, javac doesn't work.

Yeah... when you export the new PATH, then source /etc/profile, it overwrites the PATH variable. If you want it to be persistent, you'll probably want to put it IN /etc/profile.

Yeah! I found that out earlier. I opened Profile in the text editor, but it would not let me edit it! I couldn't even type. It said I do not own the file, and it says it's owned by root. I'm the administrator! Why can't I edit it? Any ideas?

Thanks

You must be logged in as root in order to edit /etc/profile. Alternatively, you could modify the path in ~/.bash_profile or ~/.profile.

How do I log in as root? I thought I was root, since I am the only account. What does it mean to modify the path in ~/.bash_profile or ~/.profile? Do I type that in the terminal? thanks.

You should not be using root on a daily basis, and most distributions have you create a user account during setup.

~/.bash_profile and ~/.profile mean the files ".bash_profile" and ".profile" in your home directory. You can, as a user, open these and modify them to change your PATH for you.

To work as root, you'll need to use the 'su' utility.

RootSudo - Ubuntu Wiki

Just to keep everyone up to date: MacaveliMC sent me an IM and I walked him through editing /etc/profile to modify the PATH set for both users and root. This seems to have resolved his problem.

Yes. I had to type su- to get into root login, then use vi profile to edit profile. This worked for me.

"Just to keep everyone up to date: MacaveliMC sent me an IM and I walked him through editing /etc/profile to modify the PATH set for both users and root. This seems to have resolved his problem."


Matir could you please post that here I am running into a similar problem

Hi!

Read this:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...40#post1841740

Regards!

Well that helps but doesn't all in one

I am not trying to do anything with java I am just trying to set my path and it wont hold

Here is what I have right now

this part sets just fine
PATH="/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/bin/X11:/usr/games"
then I have
export PATH
PATH="$PATH:/u01/postware/adm:/u01/postware/ace:/u01/postware/cace:/u01/postware/presort:/u01/postware/merge:/u01/g1"
export PATH
PATH="$PATH"
and that is what is not setting I tried it all on the same line and that didn't work either

any help you could give would be great

Thanks

Where are you putting that command? Command line? /etc/profile? /home/user/.bashrc? If you are using bash and placing that line at your /home/user/.bashrc, you must make sure that your user has bash as the default shell too. Otherwise, if you try running a program (like gnome run or simply from another shell) it won't work.

To make sure that your user has bash as the current, default shell, open and edit your "/etc/passwd". You don't have to understand all the file (if you want I can explain every field though) just change the default shell for bash to your user. Specify the whole path (/usr/bin/bash) not a relative or command one (bash).

Remember also that changing /home/user/.bashrc will make the changes only for "user". If you need the same variables for user2, you will need to add those at /home/user2/.bashrc

Good luck!