UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hi, this is such a simple question (I think), but I don't know the answer, obviously. If I'm using the terminal, and I'm remotely logged on to another computer, and I'm in my directory on that computer, what command would I use to...open a file? For example, a .exe file, or a .txt file...all I want to do is open the file.

Thanks in advance,
Dan

I am doubtful if i understood you.but lets try there are many commands to open a file you can try that

cat filename

if that file is in some other directory then you need to give path
cat /directorypath/filename

Hi
assuming you want to 'open' it to look at it - I guess you would use the commands/utilities available on the remote computer. So, if its a text file - any text editor would do (eg vi, emacs, joe) - if its a binary file you could use a HEX editor to look at the code - alternatively a debugger . It all depends on exactly what you want to do and what O/S your running also.

If you want to open it as in execute - usually the file is prefixed ./ so to run the file foo you would need to type ./foo (the file foo also needs to be executable)

good luck!

Well, cat filename works to present a file's contents to me in the terminal. What I really want is to be able to open a .exe file (I.e. to run a program) from the terminal. For example, on a PC, I would doubleclick on something like "microsoftword.exe", and Microsoft Word would open. If I have "microsoftword.exe" on a UNIX computer, and I want to open Microsoft Word from the terminal, how would I do that?

Sorry for double-post, but I just thought of something. I might actually have the wrong version of the program I want on my computer. How would I determine what type of UNIX or Solaris or whatever it's called that I am running?

uname -a
will give you details of your OS.

IF you want in detail level use
uname -X

Alright then, I guess that brings me to my next question. First, my OS details are:

SunOS 5.10 Generic_118833-03 sun4u sparc SUNW,Ultra-250

So, with that in mind, which, if any of these downloads would be appropriate for my comp? http://download3.eclipse.org/eclipse...1905/index.php

If someone could take a quick look and tell me if a download exists that is compatible with my computer, I'd be grateful.