Using COHERENT" -- Overview" "

For an ordinary user -- that is, one who neither administers the COHERENT system nor writes programs for it -- using COHERENT mainly involves issuing commands to the COHERENT system.

The Lexicon entry commands names every command that comes with the COHERENT system. The commands are grouped by function. You should look carefully at the shell commands -- that is, the commands that work closely with the shell to help you control the execution of other commands. What other groups you study will depend on just what you want to do with your COHERENT system.

Pay particular attention to the Lexicon entries for the commands sh, ksh, and vsh. These introduce the _s_h_e_l_l_s -- that is, the programs with which you can issue commands to COHERENT. Each has its own syntax; ksh and sh in fact implement fully flown programming languages on their own.

vsh is a visual shell, and is especially useful to beginners. It uses a visual interface and drop- down menus to make it easy for you to issue commands without having to remember convoluted command syntax. The Lexicon entry for vsh describes it, and how you can customize it for yourself.

The Lexicon entry for MS-DOS compares COHERENT with MS-DOS, and describes how they differ. It also gives a table of COHERENT equivalents to commonly used MS-DOS commands. If you are used to using MS-DOS, you should find this useful.

The follow commands help you to find information about your system:

aapprrooppooss: This command searches the description of each Lexicon article for a keyword that you enter. In this way, you can quickly find which articles discuss a given topic, such as ``printer'' or ``modem''.
hheellpp: This command displays a brief summary of each Lexicon article, by name.
mmaann: This command displays Lexicon articles on your screen, by name.

The following three articles introduce files that are stored in your home directory. By modifying these files, you can customize your COHERENT account to suit your tastes:

..kksshhrrcc: Script $HOME/.kshrc configures the Korn shell to suit your tastes. You will need to edit this file if you decide to use the Korn shell.
..llaassttllooggiinn: File $HOME/.lastlogin records the date and time you last logged in to your COHERENT system.
..pprrooffiillee: Script $HOME/.profile holds commands that are executed when a given user logs in to your COHERENT system.

The following Lexicon entries hold technical information that you probably will find useful:

bblloocckk: This defines the size of a ``block'' on a mass-storage device.
ccoommpprreessssiioonn: This introduces the subject of compression, and the programs with which you can compress and de-compress files. It also gives a table that describes how to de-compress files based on their default suffices.
eennvviirroonnmmeennttaall vvaarriiaabblleess: This article lists the commonly used environmental variables that are described in the Lexicon. These variables control many of the behaviors of the COHERENT system.
LLeexxiiccoonn: This describes the format of the printed COHERENT manual. It also summarizes changes made to on-line Lexicon pages (the ones that you view via the command man) since the manual was last printed.
mmaann: This summarizes the man macros that are used by the text-formatter nroff.
mmss: This summarizes the ms macros that are used by the text-formatter nroff.

Finally, the following Lexicon entries define technical terms that are used in this manual: ccaavveeaatt uuttiilliittoorr ddaaeemmoonn ddiirreeccttoorryy ffiillee ffiilltteerr ii--nnooddee nnaammeedd ppiippee ppiippee pprroocceessss rroooott ssttiicckkyy bbiitt ssuuppeerruusseerr wwiillddccaarrddss

For pointers on where to look for information on how to install and modify peripheral devices on your system, such as the keyboard, the hard disk, or a CD-ROM drive, see the Lexicon entry Administering COHERENT.

Using COHERENT" -- Overview" "

See Also