start to learn shell script

[ritalin]

Because shell script is basically list of shell instructions run in sequence, a reasonable knowledge of the shell (Terminal) is need.
This is a quick and basic introduction to the shell.
It should take about 10 minutes to read through it. It also has links, in html, to man (manual) pages for the shell commands. These are useful for reference.

To learn shell script then a good starting point would be here.
Again it short and sweet. You need to get through this page and really understand it all. If this is all new to you, then you wont understand everything after one read through. The best thing is to actually build the scripts and play with them. If you haven't already done so install Xcode and launch the Xcode.app and create an new shell script file.



I suggest saving it as test1 on your desktop.



You can now just copy example shell scripts into Xcode and play around with them.



Save the file, launch Terminal and run your new shell script.

[nikonnut]

Fantastic Rit!

This is just what I'm looking for. Thanks!

[ritalin]

This is for something I am working on. The bits that say:

echo " You say \"Blah blah blah\"."

would obviously be replaced with something more useful.

There is a lot of repeated code, does any one know of a way to cut it back a little?

#!/bin/sh

# untitled.sh

question () # Prompt the user for confirmation.
{
echo ""
echo " Is this correct?"
echo " Answer \"y\" or \"n\":"
say "please confirm your answer."
read answer
if [ "$answer" = y ]; then
{
notDone=false
}
else
{
echo " Try again..."
}
fi
echo ""
}


echo ""
echo " Will you be:"
echo ""
echo " 1 = Burning the ISO onto a DVD (Default)"
echo " 2 = Restoring the ISO onto a memory stick"
echo ""
echo " For example:"
echo " Enter \"2\" if you will be restoring the ISO onto a memory stick."

notDone=true
while [ ${notDone} = true ]
do
say "Enter your choice as a numeric value."
read smbiosChoice

if [ "${smbiosChoice}" = "1" ]; then
{
echo " 1 - Make ISO suitable for burning onto a DVD...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Make ISO suitable for burning onto a DVD\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${smbiosChoice}" = "2" ]; then
{
echo " 2 - Make ISO suitable for restoring onto a memory stick...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Make ISO suitable for restoring onto a memory stick\"."
}
fi
}
else
{
echo " Default - Make ISO suitable for burning onto a DVD...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Make ISO suitable for burning onto a DVD\"."
}
fi
}
fi
done

echo ""
echo ""
echo " Do you wish the bootable installer to use NVinject?"
echo " Answer \"y\" or \"n\":"

notDone=true
while [ ${notDone} = true ]
do
say "Do you wish to install the kernel extension nVidia inject?"
read NVinjectChoice

if [ "${NVinjectChoice}" = "y" ]; then
{
echo " Install NVinject called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Install NVinject\"."
}
fi
}
else
{
echo " Do not install NVinject...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Do not install NVinject\"."
}
fi
}

fi
done

echo ""
echo ""
echo " Please select one of the available language packs."
echo " Enter a numeric value for your language choice."
echo ""
echo " 1 = Dutch"
echo " 2 = Danish"
echo " 3 = Finnish"
echo " 4 = Polish"
echo " 5 = Russian"
echo " 6 = Swedish"
echo " 7 = Brazilian Portuguese"
echo " 8 = Portuguese"
echo " 9 = Simplified Chinese"
echo " 10 = Spanish"
echo " 11 = Traditional Chinese"
echo " 12 = French"
echo " 13 = German"
echo " 14 = Italian"
echo " 15 = Japanese"
echo " 16 = Korean"
echo " 17 = Norwegian"
echo ""
echo " For example enter 13 for German."
echo ""
echo " Alternatively, just hit Return for English."

notDone=true
while [ ${notDone} = true ]
do
say "Enter a numeric value for your language choice."
read languageChoice

if [ "${languageChoice}" = "1" ]; then
{
echo " 1 - Dutch support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Dutch\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "2" ]; then
{
echo " 2 - Danish support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Danish\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "3" ]; then
{
echo " 3 - Finnish support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Finnish\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "4" ]; then
{
echo " 4 - Polish support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Polish\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "5" ]; then
{
echo " 5 - Russian support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Russian\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "6" ]; then
{
echo " 6 - Swedish support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Swedish\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "7" ]; then
{
echo " 7 - Brazilian Portuguese support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Brazilian Portuguese\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "8" ]; then
{
echo " 8 - Portuguese support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Portuguese\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "9" ]; then
{
echo " 9 Simplified Chinese support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Simplified Chinese\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "10" ]; then
{
echo " 10 Spanish support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Spanish\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "11" ]; then
{
echo " 11 - Traditional Chinese support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Traditional Chinese\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "12" ]; then
{
echo " 12 - French support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"French\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "13" ]; then
{
echo " 13 - German support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"German\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "14" ]; then
{
echo " 14 - Italian support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Italian\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "15" ]; then
{
echo " 15 - Japanese support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Japanese\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "16" ]; then
{
echo " 16 - Korean support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Korean\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "17" ]; then
{
echo " 17 - Norwegian support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Norwegian\"."
}
fi
}

else
{
languageChoice=english
echo " English language choosen...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"English\"."
}
fi
}
fi
done

[ritalin]

Here is a version using "case" instead of the nested "if" statements.

#!/bin/sh

question () # Prompt the user for confirmation.
{
echo
echo "\tIs this correct? (y/n)[n]: \c"
say "Please confirm your answer."
read answer
case "${answer}" in

y | Y )
confirm=true
;;

* )
echo $'\a'
echo "\tTry again... \c"
;;

esac
echo
}

clear
echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------------"
echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------------"
echo; echo "\tWill you be:"
echo
echo "\t\t1 = Burning the ISO onto a DVD (Default)"
echo "\t\t2 = Restoring the ISO onto a memory stick"
echo
echo "\te.g. enter \"2\" if you will be restoring"
echo "\tthe ISO onto a memory stick: \c"

confirm=false
while [ ${confirm} = false ]
do
say "Enter your choice as a numeric value."
read smbiosChoice

case "${smbiosChoice}" in

"1" )
echo
echo "\t1 - Make ISO suitable for burning onto a DVD...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"Make ISO suitable for burning onto a DVD\"."
}
fi
;;

"2" )
echo
echo "\t2 - Make ISO suitable for restoring onto a memory stick...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"Make ISO suitable for restoring onto a memory stick\"."
}
fi
;;

* )
echo
echo "\tDefault - Make ISO suitable for burning onto a DVD...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"Make ISO suitable for burning onto a DVD\"."
}
fi
;;
esac
done

echo
echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------------"
echo; echo "\tDo you wish the bootable installer to use NVinject? (y/n)[n]: \c"

confirm=false
while [ ${confirm} = false ]
do
say "Do you wish to install the kernel extension nVidia inject?"
read NVinjectChoice

case "${NVinjectChoice}" in

y | Y )
echo
echo "\tInstall NVinject called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"Install NVinject\"."
}
fi
;;

* )
echo
echo "\tDo not install NVinject...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"Do not install NVinject\"."
}
fi
;;

esac
done

echo
echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------------"
echo; echo "\tPlease select one of the available language packs."
echo "\tEnter a numeric value for your language choice."
echo
echo "\t\t1 = Dutch"
echo "\t\t2 = Danish"
echo "\t\t3 = Finnish"
echo "\t\t4 = Polish"
echo "\t\t5 = Russian"
echo "\t\t6 = Swedish"
echo "\t\t7 = Brazilian Portuguese"
echo "\t\t8 = Portuguese"
echo "\t\t9 = Simplified Chinese"
echo "\t\t10 = Spanish"
echo "\t\t11 = Traditional Chinese"
echo "\t\t12 = French"
echo "\t\t13 = German"
echo "\t\t14 = Italian"
echo "\t\t15 = Japanese"
echo "\t\t16 = Korean"
echo "\t\t17 = Norwegian"
echo
echo "\tFor example enter 13 for German."
echo
echo "\tAlternatively, just hit Return for English: \c"

confirm=false
while [ ${confirm} = false ]
do
say "Enter a numeric value for your language choice"
read languageChoice

case "${languageChoice}" in

"1" )
echo; echo "\t1 - Dutch support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"Dutch\"."
}
fi
;;

"2" )
echo; echo "\t2 - Danish support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"Danish\"."
}
fi
;;

"3" )
echo; echo "\t3 - Finnish support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"Finnish\"."
}
fi
;;

"4" )
echo; echo "\t4 - Polish support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"Polish\"."
}
fi
;;

"5" )
echo; echo "\t5 - Russian support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"Russian\"."
}
fi
;;

"6" )
echo; echo "\t6 - Swedish support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"Swedish\"."
}
fi
;;

"7" )
echo; echo "\t7 - Brazilian Portuguese support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"Brazilian Portuguese\"."
}
fi
;;

"8" )
echo; echo "\t8 - Portuguese support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"Portuguese\"."
}
fi
;;

"9" )
echo; echo "\t9 Simplified Chinese support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"Simplified Chinese\"."
}
fi
;;

"10" )
echo; echo "\t10 Spanish support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"Spanish\"."
}
fi
;;

"11" )
echo; echo "\t11 - Traditional Chinese support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"Traditional Chinese\"."
}
fi
;;

"12" )
echo; echo "\t12 - French support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"French\"."
}
fi
;;

"13" )
echo; echo "\t13 - German support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"German\"."
}
fi
;;

"14" )
echo; echo "\t14 - Italian support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"Italian\"."
}
fi
;;

"15" )
echo; echo "\t15 - Japanese support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"Japanese\"."
}
fi
;;

"16" )
echo; echo "\t16 - Korean support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"Korean\"."
}
fi
;;

"17" )
echo; echo "\t17 - Norwegian support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"Norwegian\"."
}
fi
;;

* )
languageChoice=english
echo; echo "\tDefault - English support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${confirm} = true ]; then
{
echo "\tYou say \"English\"."
}
fi
;;

esac
done

echo
echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------------"
echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------------"
exit 0

[ritalin]

Another little problem. How to run a process in the background and display a progress bar to indicate something is happening and the script hasn't hung?

So far this is what I've come up with.

#!/bin/sh

# backGroundProcess.sh
#
#
# Created by Andy on 26/04/2008.
# Copyright 2008 __MyCompanyName__. All rights reserved.



basedir=$PWD

backGroundProcess() #back ground task would go here
{
count=0
while [ $count -le 5 ]
do
sleep 1
count=$((count+1))
done
echo; echo "Done this bit!"
basedir=$PWD
mkdir "${basedir}/done"
}

if [ -f "${basedir}/backGroundProcess.sh" ] && [ ! -d "${basedir}/done" ]; then
{
backGroundProcess &
while [ ! -d "${basedir}/done" ]
do
echo ".\c" #Display simple progress bar
sleep 1
done
rm -fr "${basedir}/done"
}
fi

[ritalin]

Apr 22, 2008 19:38:47 GMT ritalin said:

This is for something I am working on. The bits that say:

echo " You say \"Blah blah blah\"."

would obviously be replaced with something more useful.

There is a lot of repeated code, does any one know of a way to cut it back a little?

#!/bin/sh

# untitled.sh

question () # Prompt the user for confirmation.
{
echo ""
echo " Is this correct?"
echo " Answer \"y\" or \"n\":"
say "please confirm your answer."
read answer
if [ "$answer" = y ]; then
{
notDone=false
}
else
{
echo " Try again..."
}
fi
echo ""
}


echo ""
echo " Will you be:"
echo ""
echo " 1 = Burning the ISO onto a DVD (Default)"
echo " 2 = Restoring the ISO onto a memory stick"
echo ""
echo " For example:"
echo " Enter \"2\" if you will be restoring the ISO onto a memory stick."

notDone=true
while [ ${notDone} = true ]
do
say "Enter your choice as a numeric value."
read smbiosChoice

if [ "${smbiosChoice}" = "1" ]; then
{
echo " 1 - Make ISO suitable for burning onto a DVD...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Make ISO suitable for burning onto a DVD\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${smbiosChoice}" = "2" ]; then
{
echo " 2 - Make ISO suitable for restoring onto a memory stick...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Make ISO suitable for restoring onto a memory stick\"."
}
fi
}
else
{
echo " Default - Make ISO suitable for burning onto a DVD...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Make ISO suitable for burning onto a DVD\"."
}
fi
}
fi
done

echo ""
echo ""
echo " Do you wish the bootable installer to use NVinject?"
echo " Answer \"y\" or \"n\":"

notDone=true
while [ ${notDone} = true ]
do
say "Do you wish to install the kernel extension nVidia inject?"
read NVinjectChoice

if [ "${NVinjectChoice}" = "y" ]; then
{
echo " Install NVinject called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Install NVinject\"."
}
fi
}
else
{
echo " Do not install NVinject...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Do not install NVinject\"."
}
fi
}

fi
done

echo ""
echo ""
echo " Please select one of the available language packs."
echo " Enter a numeric value for your language choice."
echo ""
echo " 1 = Dutch"
echo " 2 = Danish"
echo " 3 = Finnish"
echo " 4 = Polish"
echo " 5 = Russian"
echo " 6 = Swedish"
echo " 7 = Brazilian Portuguese"
echo " 8 = Portuguese"
echo " 9 = Simplified Chinese"
echo " 10 = Spanish"
echo " 11 = Traditional Chinese"
echo " 12 = French"
echo " 13 = German"
echo " 14 = Italian"
echo " 15 = Japanese"
echo " 16 = Korean"
echo " 17 = Norwegian"
echo ""
echo " For example enter 13 for German."
echo ""
echo " Alternatively, just hit Return for English."

notDone=true
while [ ${notDone} = true ]
do
say "Enter a numeric value for your language choice."
read languageChoice

if [ "${languageChoice}" = "1" ]; then
{
echo " 1 - Dutch support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Dutch\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "2" ]; then
{
echo " 2 - Danish support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Danish\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "3" ]; then
{
echo " 3 - Finnish support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Finnish\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "4" ]; then
{
echo " 4 - Polish support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Polish\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "5" ]; then
{
echo " 5 - Russian support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Russian\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "6" ]; then
{
echo " 6 - Swedish support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Swedish\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "7" ]; then
{
echo " 7 - Brazilian Portuguese support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Brazilian Portuguese\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "8" ]; then
{
echo " 8 - Portuguese support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Portuguese\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "9" ]; then
{
echo " 9 Simplified Chinese support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Simplified Chinese\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "10" ]; then
{
echo " 10 Spanish support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Spanish\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "11" ]; then
{
echo " 11 - Traditional Chinese support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Traditional Chinese\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "12" ]; then
{
echo " 12 - French support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"French\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "13" ]; then
{
echo " 13 - German support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"German\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "14" ]; then
{
echo " 14 - Italian support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Italian\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "15" ]; then
{
echo " 15 - Japanese support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Japanese\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "16" ]; then
{
echo " 16 - Korean support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Korean\"."
}
fi
}

elif [ "${languageChoice}" = "17" ]; then
{
echo " 17 - Norwegian support called for by the user...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"Norwegian\"."
}
fi
}

else
{
languageChoice=english
echo " English language choosen...."
question
if [ ${notDone} = false ]; then
{
echo " You say \"English\"."
}
fi
}
fi
done

Well I have cut it back just a little! ;D
Here is my new version:

echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------------"
echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------------"
echo; echo "\tWill you be:"
echo
PS3='Enter your choice as a numeric value: '
select a in "Burning the ISO onto a DVD" "Restoring the ISO onto a memory stick"
do
case "$a" in
"Burning the ISO onto a DVD" ) smbiosChoice="1";break ;;
"Restoring the ISO onto a memory stick" ) smbiosChoice="2";break;;
"") echo you must select one of the above ;;
esac
done

echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------------"
echo; echo "\tDo you wish the bootable installer to use NVinject:"
echo
PS3='Enter your choice as a numeric value: '
select a in "Install NVinject" "Do not install NVinject"
do
case "$a" in
"Install NVinject" ) NVinjectChoice="y";break ;;
"Do not install NVinject" ) NVinjectChoice="n";break;;
"") echo you must select one of the above ;;
esac
done

echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------------"
echo; echo "\tPlease select one of the available language packs."
echo "\tEnter a numeric value for your language choice."
echo
PS3='Enter your choice as a numeric value: '
select a in "Dutch" "Danish" "Finnish" "Polish" "Russian" "Swedish" "Brazilian Portuguese" "Portuguese" "Simplified Chinese" "Spanish" "Traditional Chinese" "French" "German" "Italian" "Japanese" "Korean" "Norwegian" "English"
do
case "$a" in
"Dutch" ) languageChoice="1";break ;;
"Danish" ) languageChoice="2";break ;;
"Finnish" ) languageChoice="3";break ;;
"Polish" ) languageChoice="4";break ;;
"Russian" ) languageChoice="5";break ;;
"Swedish" ) languageChoice="6";break ;;
"Brazilian Portuguese" ) languageChoice="7";break ;;
"Portuguese" ) languageChoice="8";break ;;
"Simplified Chinese" ) languageChoice="9";break ;;
"Spanish" ) languageChoice="10";break ;;
"Traditional Chinese" ) languageChoice="11";break ;;
"French" ) languageChoice="12";break ;;
"German" ) languageChoice="13";break ;;
"Italian" ) languageChoice="14";break ;;
"Japanese" ) languageChoice="15";break ;;
"Korean" ) languageChoice="16";break ;;
"Norwegian" ) languageChoice="17";break ;;
"English" ) languageChoice="18";break ;;
"") echo you must select one of the above ;;
esac
done

[ohm51]

Loved those first pages in their simplicity ... using the gif images to graphically delineate the path to the utilities folder to open Terminal. I will admit the second page was quite perplexing as yet ... but you have convinced me that the sky will NOT Fall if I simply open a terminal window (and exercise reasonable caution) taking it stepwise as I go (one must learn to step before running) ... been looking for something along these lines.

So Thanks for That.

This does lead me to ask a few questions though as I am trying to understand the scheme of how things work in Unix / Mac OS X.

1. When booting into Open Firmware in verbose mode is this all occuring within the 'shell' ??

2. When working in Xcode are the commands 'sandboxed' ... in a 'test mode' or are you actually invoking the commands at the root directory ??

3. The relationship between Applescript and the 'shell' environment ?? (a) Does learning one enhance ones understanding of the other ... ( or) Is Applescript strictly for pikers

Feel free to answer via the board or mail ... whichever you choose ... if you are inclined to be so kind ... and absolutely No Hurry in answering btw ... I've been sitting on these thoughts for awhile ... so whenever you might find the time, it will be greatly appreciated and considered quite carefully.

Thanks Again and Best Regards

Ohm51