Shell Programming and Scripting

Hello I have a quick question about cygwin. I cannot access my print work directory folder. When I enter the pwd command it will put me in the folder but when I type "ls" command it says that there are no files in there. Also if I am in the home directory and I type "ls" command it lists the user name folder (ie. print work directory), but when I try to access the folder it says that it doesn't exist. In other words I cannot access or change anything in my pwd folder. I always get file doesn't exist. Please help. Thank you.

pwd doesn't put you anywhere; it tells you where you are.

To change directories, use cd.

Sorry I don't think I explained my issue very well.



In the above pic I'm in the home directory and it lists two files, a .txt and another file directory named bill gates. Why does it say no such file when I try to enter it but it displays it the home directory.

That's because cd should be followed by one word without spaces (which would be the directory you want to change to).

Cygwin picks up the first word "bill" and assumes that that is the directory you want to change to. And since the directory "bill" is non-existent, it simply says so.

Use double quotes around the directory name if it has spaces in it.

Code:

cd "bill gates"

tyler_durden

It would be far easier to read if you cut and pasted the text.

Read the error message:

Code:

bash: cd: bill: No such file or directory

You want:

Code:

cd "bill gates"

Thank you. That worked.

I have a quick follow up question. Inside the bill gates folder I have three files

.bash_profile
.bashrc
.inputrc

When I do the ls command its says total 0. Is this because the files are hidden from cygwin?

Thanks again for the help.