Adding more software

Although the application menu you get by pressing MB2 when on the background lists many programs, there are many more available to you. Since it would be impossible to comfortably list all the programs using mouse menus, you must use the add command to connect programs to your account if you wish to use them.

The syntax for the command is

add program_name or locker_name

Caution!

Because of the way add works, you should never add another person's directory. To know what initialization files to create or startup programs to run, the add command reads a file called ".environment" in the directory you're adding. If another person's directory has a ".environment" file, the commands in it can be run on files in YOUR account space. It's quite easy to lock you out of your own account or erase your work using this technique. If you need to make a directory shortcut to another person's account space, use the attach command.

Note that such use of a ".environment" file is a violation of account policy.

Adding a program

For example, to use the latest version of FrameMaker, a word processing and publishing program, you add it to the software already linked to your account by typing

add framemaker4

After a moment, the following message is displayed:

FrameMaker Version 4.0.1 - Document Publishing System
Use the following command to start FrameMaker:
        maker

This means that the program Framemaker4 has been linked to your account and that any initialization files have been created and any startup programs run. Entering the word "maker" at the prompt will start the program.

To get a list of some (but not all) programs you can add, enter add without specifying a program name.

Adding a locker of programs/commands

It's also a common practice to add a locker of programs. A locker is just a special kind of directory. For instance, if you frequently need to use image manipulation tools, you'll gain access to the programs in the "imagetools" locker by typing

add imagetools

After a moment you'll see

The  imagetools locker  has been added to your environment.
If you have any questions or comments please send mail to:
software@unity.ncsu.edu

You can now use the commands that exist in the imagetools locker even if you're in your home directory. You can also cd directly to the "imagetools" locker by prefacing it with /ncsu/.

For example, after adding the imagetools locker, you could change to the imagetools directory by typing

cd /ncsu/imagetools/

Understand that the add command both attaches a locker and runs any initialization programs. The attach command only attaches a locker or directory for easy path access.

Last modified July 20, 2004 by cawalker