Simpler Introduction to UNIX - The Basics
R.B. Lammers, Feb 3, 2003
This introduction the basics of UNIX (navigation, file listing, and copying and moving files, etc). For details of more useful commands for processing data see the Simple Introduction to UNIX.
man get manual page on a UNIX command
example: man uniq
ls list directory contents
example: ls -alR
-a list all files (includes those beginning with '.'
-l give extra details, long listing
-R recursively descend through directories
-t time sort listing
cd change directory
example: cd ../text_files
using 'cd' without any path returns user to home directory
pwd print name of current working directory
example: pwd
more view file on screen
example: more +200 data1.txt
+N start viewing at line number 'N'
cp copy files and directories
example: cp -p file1 file2
-p preserve file attributes (e.g. ownership and edit dates)
-r copy recursively through directory structure
-a archive, combines the flags -p -R and -d
mv move files and directories
example: mv -i file1 directory2/
-i interactive - prompts before overwriting files
ln make links between files
example: ln -s /home/user/Bigfile FileX
-s make a symbolic link, establish a pointer to
another file or directory.
chmod change file permissions
example: chmod a+r file*.gif
a+r all + read: make file readable by all
g+x group + executable: make file executable by all
members of the group
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