(Updated 2000 May 22)

The basics:

• commands are generally of the form: command -optional_flags argument(s)
• for more information on any command, type: man command_name
• examples are denoted with open bullets

• cd -- change directory
  • cd tmp_directory -- changes to directory named tmp_directory
  • cd demo/img -- equivalent to cd demo followed by cd img
  • cd -- go to own home directory
  • cd ~phodis -- go to phodis's home directory
  • cd .. -- changes to directory one level up
• cp -- copy
  • cp file1 file2 -- copies file1 to file2
  • cp stuff* tmp_directory/ -- copies files starting with stuff to directory tmp_directory
• df -- disk free
  • df -- shows status of all accessible disks
  • df . -- shows status of the disk you're on
  • df /usr50 -- shows status of disk named /usr50
• du -- disk usage
  • du -- shows, in blocks, usage of current directory and all subdirectories
  • du -k -- shows, in kilobytes, usage of current directory and all subdirectories
• gzip/gunzip -- compresses/uncompresses files
  • gzip *.mrc -- compresses files ending with .txt
  • gunzip *.mrc.gz -- uncompresses gzipped files
• jot -- a bare-bones text editor (on SGIs)
  • jot list.txt -- opens list.txt and creates it if it doesn't exist
• lpq -- show printer queue
  • lpq -Prose4 -- shows queue for printer named rose4
• lpr -- send file to printer
  • lpr -Prose4 *.txt -- prints all files ending in .txt to printer rose4
• ls -- list directory
  • ls -- lists current directory
  • ls tmp -- lists file or subdirectory named tmp
  • ls *.txt -- lists files ending with .txt
  • ls -l -- lists long format, including files size, date modified, file protection, etc.
  • ls -t -- lists files in chronological order, most recent files first
  • ls -r -- lists files in reverse order
  • ls -ltr -- lists files in long format in reverse chronological order
• mkdir -- make directory
  • mkdir tmp_directory -- creates directory branching from current directory
• more -- looks at a file, generally a text file
  • more list.txt -- outputs contents of list.txt to the screen
• mv -- move/rename
  • mv file1 tmp_directory/ -- moves file1 to directory tmp_directory
  • mv file1 file2 -- renames file1 to file2
• pwd -- print working directory
• rm -- remove/delete
  • rm list.txt -- deletes the file list.txt
  • rm *.txt -- deletes all files in directory ending in '.txt' (be careful with this one)
  • rm -r tmp_directory -- removes directory tmp_directory and its contents
• which -- finds directory location of accessible executables
  • which xv -- would give the response: /sware/xv/xv

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