UNIX Tutorial

In what follows, we shall use the following typographical conventions:

• The command line will be simulated by a blue box labelled “Shell”.
• To aid with navigation the standard Ubuntu Live CD prompt ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ will be shown¹⁾.
• The output of the computer, including prompts, will be shown in standard typewriter font.
• Characters written in bold typewriter font are commands to be typed into the computer as they stand.
• Characters written in italic typewriter font indicate non-specific file or directory names.
• Words inserted within square brackets [Ctrl] indicate keys to be pressed.

So, for example, <box 50% blue|Shell>ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ ls anydirectory [Enter]</box> means “at the UNIX prompt ubuntu@ubuntu:~$, type ls followed by the name of some directory, then press the key marked Enter”

Don't forget to press the [Enter] key: commands are not sent to the computer until this is done.

<box 75% orange|Note:> UNIX is case-sensitve, so LS is not the same as ls.

The same applies to filenames, so myfile.txt, MyFile.txt and MYFILE.TXT are three seperate files. Beware if copying files to a PC, since Windows does not make this distinction. </box>