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ops102:filesystem_basics [2024/01/10 17:48] – created chrisops102:filesystem_basics [2024/05/04 01:41] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 =====  Filenames  ===== =====  Filenames  =====
  
-The rules for valid filenames vary with the filesystem, but generally, filenames may include letters, numbers, dashes, underscores, and periods. Other punctuation marks may be acceptable in some filesystems but not in others, and are therefore best avoided, especially if files may be transferred between different types of filesystems or between computers.+The rules for valid filenames vary with the type of filesystem, but generally, filenames may include letters, numbers, dashes, underscores, and periods. Other punctuation marks may be acceptable in some filesystems but not in others, and are therefore best avoided, especially if files may be transferred between different types of filesystems or between computers.
  
 Spaces may be included in filenames, but may require quoting if accessed from the command-line, so that the shell does not interpret the filename as two or more separate filenames. For example, the filename "red leaf" may be interpreted as two separate filenames if written without quoting: Spaces may be included in filenames, but may require quoting if accessed from the command-line, so that the shell does not interpret the filename as two or more separate filenames. For example, the filename "red leaf" may be interpreted as two separate filenames if written without quoting:
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 Most Windows filesystems are not case-sensitive, so the filesnames ''MILK.PDF'', ''Milk.pdf'', and ''milk.pdf'' would refer to the same file. Most Windows filesystems are not case-sensitive, so the filesnames ''MILK.PDF'', ''Milk.pdf'', and ''milk.pdf'' would refer to the same file.
  
-=====  Current Directory or Working Directory  =====+=====  Current Directory or Working Directory or Current Working Directory =====
  
 Most operating systems have the concept of a "current directory" or "working directory", which allows a directory to be temporarily designated as the current working location. The working directory may be changed at any time. Most operating systems have the concept of a "current directory" or "working directory", which allows a directory to be temporarily designated as the current working location. The working directory may be changed at any time.
 +
 +To change the current working directory on Linux or on Windows, use the cd command followed by a directory name:
 +
 +  cd ops102
 +
 +To see the name of the current directory, use the command ''pwd'' (Print Working Directory) on Linux or ''cd'' on Windows.
 +
 +To change your current directory to your home directory on Linux, use the ''cd'' command by itself (with no arguments).
  
 =====  Pathnames  ===== =====  Pathnames  =====
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 A //pathname// is a filename that includes information about the directory in which the file is stored. (Sometime pathnames are simply called filenames!). A //pathname// is a filename that includes information about the directory in which the file is stored. (Sometime pathnames are simply called filenames!).
  
-There are three types of pathnames:+There are three types of pathnames, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. It is often necessary to use multiple types of pathnames in one command -- for example, when copying information from one directory to another directory. 
 + 
 +These are the three types of pathnames: 
  
 ====  Absolute Pathname  ==== ====  Absolute Pathname  ====
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 <code> <code>
-  ops102/presentation.pdf</code>+  ops102\presentation.pdf</code>
  
 refers to the absolute pathname refers to the absolute pathname
  
 <code> <code>
-  \Users\kim\ops102\presentatin.pdf</code>+  \Users\kim\ops102\presentation.pdf</code>
  
 And the relative pathname And the relative pathname
  
 <code> <code>
-  ..\Downloads\example.txt</code>+  ..\jdoe\Downloads\example.txt</code>
  
 refers to the absolute pathname refers to the absolute pathname
  
 <code> <code>
-  \Users\kim\Downloads\example.txt</code>+  \Users\jdoe\Downloads\example.txt</code>
  
-Relative pathnames are often the shortest form of pathname, but the meaning of a relative pathname changes based on the current working directory.+Relative pathnames are often the shortest form of pathname //if// the target file is in the current working directory or a subdirectory of the current working directory, but the meaning of a relative pathname changes based on the current working directory. 
 + 
 +===== Directory vs File Names ===== 
 + 
 +It is often impossible to tell whether a pathname refers to a file or to a directory. For example, the Linux pathname ''/home/chris/presentation'' might refer to a file named ''presentation'' or to a directory named ''presentation''. 
 + 
 +If you wish to explicitly indicate that a pathname refers to a directory, append a slash or backslash to the pathname.
  
 =====  Volume Designators  ===== =====  Volume Designators  =====
  
-On Windows systems, a volume designator consisting of a letter followed by a colon may prefix a pathname. The volume may be a partition on a disk drive (HDD or SSD), a network storage location, or a multi-drive volume, where multiple partitions or disks are combined into a single storage pool.+On Windows systems, a volume designator consisting of a letter followed by a colon may prefix a pathname. The volume may be a partition on a disk drive (HDD or SSD), a shortcut to a network storage location, or a multi-drive volume, where multiple partitions or disks are combined into a single storage pool.
  
 Since the original IBM PC was designed to have up to two floppy disk drives, designated A: and B:, the main/first disk drive in a Windows system is usually designated as volume C: Since the original IBM PC was designed to have up to two floppy disk drives, designated A: and B:, the main/first disk drive in a Windows system is usually designated as volume C:
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 The volume designator is case-insensitive. The volume designator is case-insensitive.
  
-Each unique volume on a Windows system has its own current/working directory.+Each unique volume on a Windows system has its own current/working directory. You can switch between volumes by typing the volume designator by itself.
  
 On a Linux system, instead of using drive designators, volumes are //mounted// into the filesystem hierarchy -- that is, volumes are attached as directories, creating a unified hierarchy with a single root directory. On a Linux system, instead of using drive designators, volumes are //mounted// into the filesystem hierarchy -- that is, volumes are attached as directories, creating a unified hierarchy with a single root directory.
  
 +=====  Basic Commands for Dealing with Files and Directories  =====
 +
 +Here are some basic commands for creating and removing files and directories, changing and displaying the current directory, and displaying a tree diagram of a directory hierarchy. We will look at other commands and 
 +
 +^ Description ^ Linux Command ^ Windows Command ^ Notes ^
 +| Make a Directory | mkdir //directory// | mkdir //directory// | |
 +| Remove a Directory (Must be empty)| rmdir //directory// | rmdir //directory// | |
 +| Change (Working) Directory | cd //directory// | cd //directory// | |
 +| Print Current Working Directory | pwd | cd | |
 +| Change to Home Directory | cd | | |
 +| List Contents of Directory | ls \\ ls -l | dir | Linux: -l option displays long listing (including permissions, ownership, size, modification date/time) |
 +| Create an Empty File | touch //file// | copy nul //file// | |
 +| Remove/Delete a File | rm //file// | del //file// | |
 +| Display a Tree Diagram starting at Current Directory | tree | tree\\ tree /f | Windows: /f causes tree to display files (otherwise only directories are shown) |
 +| Copy a file | cp //sourcefile// //destinationfile// | copy //sourcefile// //destinationfile// | |
 +| Move or rename a file | mv //currentfilename// //newfilename// | move //currentfilename// //newfilename// | |
 +| Display the text contents of a file | cat //file// | type //file// | Note: Using these commands on a file that contains non-text data may look very strange. |
ops102/filesystem_basics.1704908905.txt.gz · Last modified: 2024/04/16 18:10 (external edit)
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