The dot command-line utility?


 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Operating Systems Linux The dot command-line utility?
# 1  
Old 07-15-2009
The dot command-line utility?

Hi,
What else is the dot used beside relative filepaths in bash? Is it a shell utility as well?
No man entry for dot (.)...
# 2  
Old 07-15-2009
'man bash' yields the following:
Code:
SHELL BUILTIN COMMANDS
     Unless otherwise noted, each builtin command  documented  in
     this  section  as accepting options preceded by - accepts --
     to signify the end of the options.
     : [arguments]
          No effect; the command does  nothing  beyond  expanding
          arguments and performing any specified redirections.  A
          zero exit code is returned.

      .  filename [arguments]
     source filename [arguments]
          Read and execute commands from filename in the  current
          shell  environment  and  return  the exit status of the
          last command executed from filename.  If filename  does
          not  contain  a  slash,  file names in PATH are used to
          find  the  directory  containing  filename.   The  file
          searched for in PATH need not be executable.  When bash
          is not in posix mode, the current directory is searched
          if  no file is found in PATH.  If the sourcepath option
          to the shopt builtin command is turned off, the PATH is
          not  searched.   If  any  arguments  are supplied, they
          become the positional parameters when filename is  exe-
          cuted.    Otherwise   the   positional  parameters  are
          unchanged.  The return status is the status of the last
          command  exited within the script (0 if no commands are
          executed), and false if filename is not found or cannot
          be read.

# 3  
Old 07-15-2009
Smilie as I am about to take a linux cert exam in a couple of weeks... tnx
# 4  
Old 07-25-2009
The . and .. are special directory names. If you create a single The single dot means the directory you are in. The double dots means up one level in the directory tree. Also a heads up, if this is a homework question there is a special forum for that. There is a rule on this site stating homework questions are not allowed except in the homework questions forum. The moderators here are very good about enforcing the rules.
Login or Register to Ask a Question

Previous Thread | Next Thread

9 More Discussions You Might Find Interesting

1. Shell Programming and Scripting

Issue in running a command line utility in CRON

Hi Everyone! I am facing an issue in running a command line utility from the CRON. This utility displays IPC statistics on UNIX message queues: The "queue name" and the "count" of messages in the queue. When running this utility from prompt, it will provide an output on the screen, like the... (4 Replies)
Discussion started by: vai_sh
4 Replies

2. Shell Programming and Scripting

Help to explaining a command in run dot tcl

Hi, I'm running a rdt (run dot tcl) command, and come accross this line: alias abc 'set ARGS =(\!*); source home123/abc/$ARGS/setup' What does the command exactly do? Please help. (6 Replies)
Discussion started by: mar85
6 Replies

3. UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

FTP command-line utility usage

Hi, Using command-line utility "ftp or sftp", I want to transfer files across Windows and UNIX. Can you please tell me from where I need to connect to ftp and how do I specify the hostname, credentials and how do I get and put files between DOS and UNIX? Please provide me as much... (10 Replies)
Discussion started by: Dev_Dev
10 Replies

4. Shell Programming and Scripting

DB Access Command Line Utility

To read/write to a DB from Java or Perl, you usually have to install/reference several drivers and write a whole bunch of boilerplate DB access code. I'm curious if someone has written a command line utility for Unix/Linux for simple database access for the major providers, something like: ... (3 Replies)
Discussion started by: furashgf
3 Replies

5. Shell Programming and Scripting

how to call dot c file using system command

Hi every one, i have to dot pc files. One have main function but one dont have.I have to call dot pc file using system () cmd.File is being call have main function.Please let me know how i can call .pc file with two arguments from other dot pc file.I want some thing like sprintf(buf,... (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: goraya430
1 Replies

6. Programming

top command line utility

I'm writing a monitoring application. I'd like to periodically get the information provided by the 'top' command line utility from within my code and write the output of 'top' to a file. Wondering if anyone has already done something like this. Doing system("top > someFile"); does not create... (6 Replies)
Discussion started by: antoniomorandi
6 Replies

7. Programming

command line socket read utility

HI I have a messaging s/w daemon(TIBCO rvrd) provided by vendor which will accept connections from various clients and routes messages to the destinations. In order to route it internally uses two ports(one tcp adn one udp). I want to know on which port(tcp/udp) it is transmitting... (3 Replies)
Discussion started by: axes
3 Replies

8. UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Simple ed questions - insert line with dot

Hi I've got a trivial question on using ed (yes, I know, other editors are better!) How do I insert a line that is just a single dot? (That is, how do I insert a line that starts with a dot and then new line) Thanks Peter (4 Replies)
Discussion started by: peterl
4 Replies

9. UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

command to list dot files

hey. i am a bit new to unix and i am trying to figure out how to list the names of the 'dot' files that are in my account. what command does this? thank you very much for your help. (4 Replies)
Discussion started by: Jakeman1086
4 Replies
Login or Register to Ask a Question