Helpful Information
 
 
Category: Operating Systems
Adding a Directory to the PATH

I'm using Red Hat Linux 6.2, can anybody tell me how I can add a directory to the Path pls. My fingers are falling off typing full directory locations to commands!

thanks

Coupla' things-

You can use "tab autocompletion" to complete a filename/path. Partially type something and then hit tab once (or twice on some distros, I think you can edit this) to see a list of possible completions.

If you're using bash, edit your ".bash_profile" file in your home directory and add


export PATH =$PATH:/new/path/to/add:/other/new/path


If you're not sure if you're using bash, type


echo $SHELL

and you'll see what shell you're using.

I don't remember if you need to logout and log back in for it to take effect. type


printenv |less

or just


echo $PATH

to see your path.
If you don't see your updated path you probably need to logout and back in.

If you want to make it system wide, I think you edit the /etc/skel/.bash_profile, but I don't really remember.

Sorry if I'm being too basic. Not sure where you're at with your *nix skills.

Good luck!

Thanks for the reply.

I got it to work for a particular user. But I want it to work for specifically the root user, or everybody - either it doesn't matter.

The server I'm using came pre-setup by the hosting company with two root users, one of which I do not use, it is for emergency access. The other is the one accessed when you su - , how this is done I've no idea!

In the home dir of this root user there is a .tcshrc which contains a set path statment. I added the path into this, logged out etc, however it wasn't available after when I "echo $PATH"ed .

I also tried the etc/skel/ method and this ddidnt work either...

Any other ideas?

then edit the .bash_profile (again, this is assuming you're using the bash shell. If you aren't, then it's different) of the root user.
here's how the commands might look


su
cd ~
pico .bash_profile
## Enter the stuff from above into the file

Ok,

normal users are using bash. But the root user is using tcshrc (whatever this is I have no idea!).

Any hints on what to do here?










privacy (GDPR)