UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hello-

I am trying to view a file which is quite large. However, whenever I do 'cat (file name)' it shows me just the half.. I am using Putty to access my server.

Also, is it possible to edit a file from a unix system on a 'Gedit for Windows" text editor?

Thanks

Well, files over 2 or 4GB can mess up 32 bit commands, but usually the ksh does a 64 bit open(), so:

Code:

cat <file_name

Usually, I use an ssh file mover like scp, or an ssh file moving gui. Doesn't putty have a file mover?

Files from UNIX are easy to edit in wordpad but not notepad, as the lines are lf delimited, not cr-lf delimited (Mac likes cr delimited, so WinDOS is in the middle). You can add the cr to make them windows friendly. I use sed beause I do it so rarely that I forget the names of the cr adding and stripping programs, dos2unix or something such.

Hmm "quite large" is not a number.

Please show basic detail about the file and the server, blotting anything confidential with X's:

Code:

uname -a
echo "${SHELL}"
ls -lad filename
file filename

What command did you type?

You can get a lot, often almost a meg., into env variables; VM not /tmp, no cleanup issues:

Code:

 
export xxx=$(<file)

Why use a Gnome "parrot" when there's Emerald Editor. It was once known as Crimson Editor, and is written and equipped with all the same basic and extended features of its predecessor. I actually prefer it to everything in Linux save the Emacs Client GUI. It does fall short in a few areas (f'r'instance the installed vocab file for its Spell Check is six lines long and requires manual editing for any more words), but given everything else it can do -- including reading "quite large" files created in Linux {7- or 8-bit text as well as non-text} -- that's a ladle in a lake, if you get my meaning.

Thought I'd add a helpful suggestion. Hoping it wasn't too OT for this thread; I don't mean to distract while the OP still hasn't got a workable answer to his question.

BZT

There is "more" to view what datamodel the file is based on and "grep" for when you are looking for specific items in the file. From there on, you can start to build your load script, or whatever processing you wish to do with the file. In other words, you can start to view the file without using editors.

You can also use "less" instead of "more". less allows you to scroll up and down.

In regards to editing a file vi or vim works great via command line.
I don't know if gedit is available on Unix by default, but that would fo couse require gnome.

In regards to putty's file mover, you can download pscp from putty's website. Just google search for pscp.exe. If you are using windows, I like to rename pscp.exe to scp.exe and place it in the windows directory.
I guess for those who are unfamiliar with vi or vim, can use nano (old pico replacement). This may be a real good time to use vi or vim as it is quite powerful.