On Fri, Dec 01, 2000 at 11:08:49PM -0500, Harry Henry Gebel wrote:
> On Fri, Dec 01, 2000 at 07:41:01PM -0700, cls-c/s wrote:
> > in bash, i sometimes hit ' at the end of a command and i then get > on the
> > next line. what does > do?
>
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]:~$ top'
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]:~$ exit
>
> The > prompt is bash's way of telling you that you haven't finished typing
> in a command yet. When you typed the single quote you tell bash that you
> are starting to type an argument and that characters that normally have
> special meanings such as *, $, the space, and the carriage return, no
> longer have those special meanings. Since the carriage return no longer has
> it's special meaning (to tell bash you are done typing a command) bash just
> interprets it as one more character to put into that argument. It will stay
> in this mode until you type another single quote. The single quote retains
> it's special meaning because otherwise you would have no way to stop typing
> the argument, the backslash retains it's special meaning in case you have
> to insert a single quote character into the argument. You can also still
> abort the command with CTRL-C .
would you like to write up a few more introductory remarks
on this and related topics?
http://www.eGroups.com/files/newbieDoc
we need your help!
--
There are only two places in the world where time takes
precedence over the job to be done. School and prison.
--William Glasser
[EMAIL PROTECTED] *** http://www.dontUthink.com/
volunteer to document your experience for next week's
newbies -- http://www.eGroups.com/messages/newbieDoc
