UNIX Commands and Help

last updated 1/16/07

Commands and command syntax

  command [-switch-option ... ] [argument-list ... ]

Commands are simply file names (executable);
options are typically prefixed with a hyphen;
arguments are often filenames

The "[ ]" mean the contents are an optional part of the command and "..." mean that more than one of the items can occur.

The command, options and arguments are separated by spaces.

man command gives you on-line help, standard description of the command and its options and arguments.

Commands for Java Development

`ls`	list filenames
`cat file`	catenate the file contents (display)
`vi filename`	start the visual editor on the file designated (supply the extension, e.g. .java)
*javac file.java*	compile a java program (you must give the extension .java)
java classfile	execute a java class file (do NOT supply the extension .class)
`lp file`	print to the default line printer (we don't have one set)
`lp -dmainlasr file`	print file to the A214 laser printer (-ddestination)	mainlasr mainlasrb c102 c217 p107 cyber p223
`enscript -2r file` `enscript -2r -Pmainlasr file`	print file in enscripted format
`cancel jobcode`	remove job from line printer
`lpstat`	check the line printer queue (-t gives a full listing of all queues)
`script` `script file`	start capturing console/terminal I/O into a file called typescript or the file designated ^D or exit ends this capturing process

The Unix server does not know about other printers on the network. Printers are accessible on Unix only if they have their own IP address. You cannon print on your personal printer unless you "ftp" the file to your machine and print it from notepad or the ftp application directly.