simple CLI questions

[Argent]

I've had to use the CLI a bit lately. I haven't used a CLI since msdos. Some things befuddle me;

1) Is there a keyboard shortcut to launch the konsole? The official manual isn't telling.

2) how do you run a command as though you launched it in a different directory. for example I can be in folder alpha and can run an executable in folder alpha/beta but how do i run the command as though I launched it in alpha/beta rather than alpha.

3) When pasting text into the konsole how do you stop it automatically executing it on paste (as though there is a carriage return after the paste)? It's infuriating.

4) How do you close man. The manual displayer. man man didn't shed much light here.

5) Sometimes when I make a mistake I get a '>' prompt below which seems to be asking for more information. How do i cancel it and go back the the $ prompt?

CLI is a spelling nazi. One little character out of place and splat, if you're lucky nothing happens.

[otisklt]

Re: simple CLI questions

1) Alt+F2 brings up a command line for launching things.


2) If I follow the question... format is: appname [arguments] [path] / [filename]
for example if I am currently in /home/user and wanted to open xorg.conf in /etc/X11/
the command I would type is: nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Using that format it would not matter where you are and if the app you are trying to use is CLI capable. Instead of nano insert your favorite console text ed. I prefer joe myself.

If you wanted to open as root use the sudo command at the beginning of the command.
sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf


3) not sure on that one... I have seen it both ways so it may come down to how the source was copied.


4) To close man hit q


5) To exit the > prompt hit Ctrl+C that type of prompt usually indicates it is expecting more of a command to follow or something like that. Ctrl+C is your friend in the console as it "should" cancel what action you have it working on.


CLI is a spelling nazi. Try to use the tab key for autocompletion more


-ed for read

[Argent]

Re: simple CLI questions

Fantastic, thanks for the response.

1) I was hoping for a direct konsole launch though this looks useful too

2) Not quite what i was after. I want to do it like that but as though i had executed in the /etc/X11/ directory. Actually I'm not explaining it well and I'm not sure i know how to. I need the executable to see all the other stuff in the directory it is in. If i do it your way it cannot find it because it's been executed as though you are in the /home/user directory. So it's looking in /home/user not /etc/X11.

3) I often copy from openoffice writer. Perhaps it's copying more than the text. Maybe something in formatting does it.

4) works like a charm thanks

5) also works like a charm

ahh tab. I find the up and down arrow useful too.

[sasha]

Re: simple CLI questions

1) You can use KDE menu editor to assign shortcut for an app. Run `kmenuedit`, locate konsole there and click on "advanced" tab. An option to assign shortcut should be there.

2) If your executable is shell script you can simply change working dir in that script before running other stuff , `cd /home/to/dir`.

You can do something like this too on shell prompt `cd alpha/beta && ls` which should list files in your alpha/beta dir

[The Liquidator]

Re: simple CLI questions

8.10 assumed.

Put a direct shortcut on the panel:

Right click on desktop and select unlock widgets. Then navigate the kmenu to the Konsole menu entry. Right click on it then select copy to panel. Manouevre the icon to where you want it, then right click on desktop and lock widgets again.

Your second point (you might like this one). When running Dolphin, navigate to the directory where the necessary file is. Hit F4. A terminal will open at the bottom and you have already "CD'd" to the necessary directory. Type in your command (say sudo sh <space>) and drag and drop the file into the terminal window and you are away

[Qqmike]

Re: simple CLI questions

on 3), have had the same problem; even worse, when copying from OOo Writer to Konsole, the commands don't execute! Sometimes, not always. Rx: re-type the commands by hand.

Sounds like much of my how-to is too basic for you (if you've had DOS work), but I'll post it here anyway, and it does spend a lot of time on navigating the Kubuntu directory tree (using cd, ls, pwd) and includes a few intermediate topics:

Commands at Konsole: Beginners
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3091607.0
In 3 parts, new/improved, complete basic tutorial.

(please post questions back here, not in the how-to -- thx)

[Argent]

Re: simple CLI questions

Thanks again.

sasha: Yes a shell script or the && will turn the trick. Is a shell script as simple as a list of commands in a text file? I know you need to make it executable and use sh.

The Liquidator: I should have thought of putting it on the panel, i already have firefox and my email on there. I do like the dolphin trick.

Qqmike: the how-to very very useful. Plenty there I knew. Plenty there I had no idea about. I had no idea you could mount a .iso directly but i guess it makes sense if devices are files as well.

I have two questions. You've got in there that ~ is the home directory but for me ~ is home/username

is [!0} a typo or does it need the alternating brackets?

It's a lot to take in.

[Qqmike]

Re: simple CLI questions

The symbol ~ means your home directory.
So, for me
~
means
/home/mike
and
~/Desktop
means
/home/mike/Desktop
and
~/Desktop/file1
means
/home/mike/Desktop/file1


The notation
[!0]
indicates everything but zero; ie., not zero; or "non-zero" characters, which means any character (alphanumeric) except zero.


EDIT: Ah! I see what you mean; right ], not right }
I will correct it. Thanks!

[jglen490]

Re: simple CLI questions

3) When pasting text into the konsole how do you stop it automatically executing it on paste (as though there is a carriage return after the paste)? It's infuriating.

Hate it when that happens, but just remember, if what you are copying is at the end of a line and that line has a carriage return, well the carriage return gets copied, gets pasted, and because it's there gets executed!!

So if you are copying something, be a little careful and stop at the last printable character. If your copy mark goes beyond the end, then guess what -- there's something in that little bit of extra space. It may, or may not, be something that you really want.

[Argent]

Re: simple CLI questions

That sounds like it'd be the problem. Maybe a copy or paste as text would be useful which would remove all the hidden surprises.

[muzicman0]

Re: simple CLI questions

didn't read everything...but for the shortcut to konsole, install yakuake...

sudo apt-get install yakuake

set it to run at start up...then just press f12, and a konsole window will drop down from the top of the screen. Don't remember how it is configured by default, but my preference is to set it to 'roll back up' when it looses focus.

I couldn't live without this program...

mm0

[Jonas]

Re: simple CLI questions

didn't read everything...but for the shortcut to konsole, install yakuake...

sudo apt-get install yakuake

set it to run at start up...then just press f12, and a konsole window will drop down from the top of the screen. Don't remember how it is configured by default, but my preference is to set it to 'roll back up' when it looses focus.

I couldn't live without this program...

mm0

just ... just WOW! cheers for that

[muzicman0]

Re: simple CLI questions

nice, isn't it!

[muzicman0]

Re: simple CLI questions

oh yeah, one more thing, you can right click in yakuake, and edit the profile to change background and text colors...I kept looking in preferences for that, but it is actually in the right click menu.

[Jonas]

Re: simple CLI questions

oh yeah, one more thing, you can right click in yakuake, and edit the profile to change background and text colors...I kept looking in preferences for that, but it is actually in the right click menu.

Ah King mate .. was a thought I had aswell ... and you answered before I asked .. I just love this forum
next stop el KDE quatro.due cheers again!