The > symbol - UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

csb · #1 (**permalink**) 06-12-2006

Hi guys,

Im new to unix; I have a problem at hand.

Somehow at the terminal, I lost the command prompt, instead I get a ">" symbol. Anything I type in does me no good. What do you recommend?

Thank you for your help.

tayyabq8 · #2 (**permalink**) 06-12-2006

Try Delete key or Ctrl+C or Ctrl + z to come out of that command and bring your prompt back.

thestevew · #3 (**permalink**) 06-13-2006

The > is the default UNIX secondary prompt (held in the $PS2 environment variable, so you can change it for the current logon session with PS2="anythingyoulike ") and shows that the last command line was incomplete, often because of unclosed quotes
e.g.

Code:

$ print "hello
> world"
$

or you are entering a multi-line command

Code:

$ for a in x y
> do
> print $a
> done
x
y
$

To get back to normal finish the command or terminate it (control-c)

cheers

hu$h · #4 (**permalink**) 06-13-2006

try q and enter or bye and enter. it may be an FTP command prompt or somthing along thoughs lines.

hush

More UNIX and Linux Forum Topics You Might Find Helpful
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Undefined symbol: .log	ravindra_maddal	AIX	0	05-15-2008 04:30 AM
use of \&\& symbol	suryahota	Shell Programming and Scripting	2	10-04-2007 04:15 AM
Append with TM symbol	ganesh123	Shell Programming and Scripting	1	03-20-2007 11:41 AM
no symbol table	Dom_Cyrus	High Level Programming	2	01-31-2006 05:15 AM
unresolved symbol ???	svennie	UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers	2	10-08-2004 03:21 AM

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode