i am using solaris 5.10. i can create two different files "test" and ".test" in the same directory. now suppose i want to change the attribute of the hidden file .test to visible is it possible???

since "." is just an attribute to mark a file hidden why is unix allows creation of "file" and ".file" in the same directory

I dont think its an attribute ... but i might be wrong, file and .file are two different file really, the leading dot is part of the filename but interpreted so to hide the file with "normal ls'ting"

thats exactly my question. if leading "." is interpreted has making the file hidden, why does unix allows to creating a "file" when ".file" is present.

conversely if suppose i have "file" and ".file" in my directory isnt there any way i can make ".file" visible without changing either of the file names

sure there is, just type 'ls -a' you'll list both file and .file.
And you can access both files with same way with no special requirement for the dotted one ...

buddy ls -a is for viewing hidden files. my question is that is there any way we can make ".file" a normal visible file.. one u can see wid ls command

okay dig that, but why would you want that? i cant think of anything except to hack the source of ls really (not kidding!)

itz not abt "why i would want to do that", its about "why does it happen"... ever since i have started working on unix, i have been fascinated by itss simplicity and consistency... itz so unUNIX like, not allowing to do something that could be done......
anyways thanks for ur help

Its not about "why I would want to do that", its about "why does it happen"... Ever since I have started working on unix, I have been fascinated by its simplicity and consistency. Its so un-unix-like, not allowing to do something that could be done. Anyway, thanks for your help.

See rule 9 please.