About This Manual

The Command and Shell User's Guide introduces users to the basic use of commands and shells in Compaq Tru64^TM UNIX operating system. This manual also documents how to communicate with other network users.

Audience

This manual is written for those who do not have extensive knowledge of UNIX compatible operating systems. This manual explains important concepts, provides tutorials and is organized according to tasks.

This manual discusses the entry and execution of commands from the command line. There are numerous graphical user interfaces (GUIs) available to perform many of these functions or to perform additional tasks. See the users instructions that accompany your window manager, the particular application or your system administrator.

New and Changed Features

The following features are new or changed in this version of the manual:

Additional flags and options have been added to tables and examples.

All the art works have been updated.

Index entries have been fine tuned.

The manual has been technically updated based on QARs (Quality Assurance Reports).

Previous versions of this manual are available on the World Wide Web at http://www.tru64unix.compaq.com/docs/. See the New and Changed Features section of those versions to learn the evolution of this manual.

Organization

This manual is organized as follows:

Chapter 1	Shows how to login and logout of your system, enter commands, set your password and obtain online help.
Chapter 2	Provides an overview of the file system, consisting of the files and directories that are used to store text, programs and other data. This chapter also introduces you to the `vi` text editor, a program that lets you create and modify files.
Chapter 3	Shows how to manage files. You will learn how to list, display, copy, move, link and remove them.
Chapter 4	Explains how to manage directories. You will learn how to create, change, display, copy, rename and remove files.
Chapter 5	Shows how to control access to your files and directories by setting appropriate permissions. It also describes standard password and group security issues. It also provides an overview of additional security considerations.
Chapter 6	Describes how the operating system creates and keeps track of the processes. This chapter explains how to redirect process input, output and error information, run processes simultaneously, display process information and cancel processes.
Chapter 7	Introduces features common to the shells available with the operating system: the C, Bourne, Korn, and POSIX shells. You learn how to change your shell, use command entry aids, understand some features of your shell environment (login scripts, environment and shell variables), set and clear variables, write logout scripts and also write and run basic shell procedures.
Chapter 8	Provides detailed reference information about the C, Bourne, Korn, and POSIX shells, comparing their features. It details the commands and environment variables of each program and shows how to set up your login script.
Chapter 9	Shows how to access the System V habitat, a subset of commands, subroutines and system calls that conforms to the System V Interface Definition (SVID).
Chapter 10	Provides information on how to get information about other users and remote hosts on the network.
Chapter 11	Provides information about how to send a message to another user.
Chapter 12	Provides information about how to copy files to or between remote hosts.
Chapter 13	Provides information about how to log in to or execute commands at a remote host.
Chapter 14	Provides information about the UNIX-to-UNIX Copy Program (UUCP) for performing communication tasks concurrently on both a local and remote host.
Appendix A	Teaches you how to use the basic features of the `vi` text editor.
Appendix B	Teaches you how to use the `ed` text editor. Detailed information about `ed` is provided because all systems have this editor and `ed` can be used in critical system management situations when no other editor can be used.
Appendix C	Describes the internationalization features that allow users to process data and interact with the system in a manner appropriate to their native language, customs and geographic region.
Appendix D	Provides a list of variables that can be used in the `.mailrc` file to customize a `mailx` session.
Appendix E	Provides a list of escape commands that can be used to perform certain tasks from within a `mailx` session.
Appendix F	Provides a list of commands that can be used to send, read, delete or save messages using `mailx`.

Related Documentation

The following Tru64 UNIX user documents are available in HTML format on your CD-ROM and optionally in hardcopy:

Network Administration: Connections

Network Administration: Services

Documentation Overview

Reference Pages Section 1

Reference Pages Sections 8 and 1m

Security

System Administration

Security

ULTRIX to DIGITAL UNIX Migration Guide

Quick Reference Card

The Tru64 UNIX Documentation is available on the World Wide Web at the following url:

http://www.tru64unix.compaq.com/docs/.

The referred documents will help the user to understand the UNIX commands in a better way, apart from providing better guidance on some specific topics.

Icons on Tru64 UNIX Printed Manuals

The printed version of the Tru64 UNIX documentation uses letter icons on the spines of the manuals to help specific audiences quickly find the manuals that meet their needs. (You can order the printed documentation from Compaq.) The following list describes this convention:

G	Manuals for general users
S	Manuals for system and network administrators
P	Manuals for programmers
R	Manuals for reference page users

Some manuals in the documentation help meet the needs of several audiences. For example, the information in some system manuals is also used by programmers. Keep this in mind when searching for information on specific topics.

The Documentation Overview provides information on all of the manuals in the Tru64 UNIX documentation set.

Reader's Comments

Compaq welcomes any comments and suggestions you have on this and other Tru64 UNIX manuals.

You can send your comments in the following ways:

Fax: 603-884-0120 Attn: UBPG Publications, ZK03-3/Y32

Internet electronic mail:
readers_comments@zk3.dec.com
A Reader's Comment form is located on your system in the following location:
/usr/doc/readers_comment.txt

Please include the following information along with your comments:

The full title of the manual and the order number (the order number is printed on the title page of this manual and on its back cover).

The section numbers and page numbers of the information on which you are commenting.

The version of Tru64 UNIX you are using.

If known, the type of processor that is running the Tru64 UNIX software.

The Tru64 UNIX Publications group cannot respond to system problems or technical support inquiries. Please address technical questions to your local system vendor or to the appropriate Compaq technical support office. Information provided with the software media explains how to send problem reports to Compaq.

Conventions

The following conventions are used in this manual:

% $: A percent sign represents the C shell system prompt. A dollar sign represents the system prompt for the Bourne, Korn, and POSIX shells.
#: A number sign represents the superuser prompt.
% cat: Boldface type in interactive examples indicates typed user input.
file: Italic (slanted) type indicates variable values, placeholders, and function argument names.
[ | ] { | }: In syntax definitions, brackets indicate items that are optional and braces indicate items that are required. Vertical bars separating items inside brackets or braces indicate that you choose one item from among those listed.
colored text: In syntax definitions, literal elements are colored green. Variable values, placeholders, and function argument names are colored red. No special colored text is used outside of syntax descriptions.
. . .: In syntax definitions, a horizontal ellipsis indicates that the preceding item can be repeated one or more times.
cat(1): A cross-reference to a reference page includes the appropriate section number in parentheses. For example, cat(1) indicates that you can find information on the cat command in Section 1 of the reference pages.
[Ctrl/x]: This symbol indicates that you hold down the first named key while pressing the key or mouse button that follows the slash. In examples, this key combination is enclosed in a box (for example, [Ctrl/C] ).