Unix File Management Quick Reference Startup ======= Unix files are stored in a directory tree, and each user has a home directory. The upper-most level of the file system is called root and is referenced by the character "/". Under root are any number of subdirectores, with user's home directory typically under /home or /users; for example, /home/auser is the pathname of a user's home directory. Files or other directories may be stored under the user's home directory. Changing your working directory =============================== Type "pwd" to display your working directory, and type "cd" to change the working directory: $ pwd /users/auser $ cd play $ pwd /users/auser/play $ To return to your home directory from any location, type "cd" with no pathname following it. Listing files ============= To see the files in a directory, use the ls command: $ ls play prog1 work $ If you have a new account and are logged in for the first time, ls will display nothing and you'll see a new shell prompt. Some files are normally hidden from view to ls -- to see these use the -a option: $ ls -a . .. .kshrc .exrc .profile play prog1 work $ Filenames starting with "." are not displayed by ls unless the -a option is used: ".." refers to the parent directory (the one above the current working directory); "." is the relative name for the current working directory; .profile and .kshrc contain commands automatically executed when you login; and .exrc contains commands automatically executed when you run the ex or vi editors. Note that other Unix shells may use different system files. To see the types of files displayed by ls, use ls -F as shown below: $ ls -F play/ prog1* work $ Directories are listed with a "/" at the end of their names, and executable programs are listed with a "*" at the end. Seeing inside files =================== Use the command more to view a fileÕs contents: $ more work This file is a very short one to show how more does it's work. . . . --More--(40%) At the --More-- prompt, press the space bar to see the next screen's worth of the file. If more is not on your system, try pg. Creating files ============== Files are usually created with an editing program; see the Quick Reference handouts on vi and Emacs for information about these. Copying and moving files ======================== Use cp to copy a file to a new one, and use mv to change a file's name $ cp work morework $ mv morework lesswork $ Removing files ============== Use rm to remove a file from your directory: $ rm lesswork $ Caution: be very careful using rm -- there is usually no easy way to recover files removed with it. Creating and removing directories ================================= Use mkdir to make directories in your home directory, and use rmdir to remove those directories: $ mkdir newstuff $ ls -F newstuff/ play/ prog1* work $ rmdir newstuff $ Note that rmdir will remove directories only when they are empty! Help facilities =============== See the man pages for the commands discussed above. Related topics ============== See the Quick Reference handouts for the vi and ex editors and the Emacs editor.