Jump to content

How to run a program from the terminal?


Guest gdr75fq
 Share

Recommended Posts

Guest gdr75fq

I was wondering how to run a program from the login screen. I need to configure something and need to run a program before I log into the desktop.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Your question is not clear; could you please be more specific as to what program your trying to run and what problems your having. Typically, if a program is in your PATH, you just type the program name in a terminal and hit Enter. PATH is just a name for a list of certain directories that are specified in your terminal configuration file which the terminal will automatically search to find the program you specify. If the program is not in PATH, you have to type the actual path to the program in order to execute it from a terminal or be in the directory where the program is located. In order to run certain scripts, you have to do a little more. To complicate matters more, some programs should not be run with the graphical server, called X, running so you have to kill X first. If you give more details, I can tell you what to do, but I really don't want to write a treatise covering every possibility. So, please, more info.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest gdr75fq

Thanks for replying. The program that I am trying to run is driver configuration program. It is for an ATI video card. I have installed the driver and it ask me to run a program to configure. The name of program is "fglrxconig". I have tried typing in just the name of the configuration program at the command line. It says that name is not a valid command. I need to run the configuration program before I log into the graphic desktop.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Find the said file and go to that directory

 

type ./<filename>

where filename is the name of the file.

 

If the program is marked as executable by you then it should run.

 

Longer answer.

Linux doesn't implicity add the path of the current directory like DOS.

A good way to see the executable is using the which command.

 

which xpdf : will return the first executable called xpdf in the path.

 

Its slightly more complex for bigger applications becuase the library path etc needs to be specified but Im guessing your config one will be built static to overcome this.

 

If it still refuses to run then check its exectuable by YOU.

ls -l <filename> should show an x in the -rwxrwxrwx part.

If your curious this stands for OWNER,GROUP,WORLD.

i.e. rwxrx-r-- means the ownner can read,write and exectute, the file. Anyone in the same group can read or execute and anyone can execute.

 

For a directory you need to be able to execute to cd to that directory.

Hope this helps and is educational ..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sure. If you are in the default mdk KDE setup click on the Konsole icon--a monitor with a seashell on it just to right of the K.

Try typing "whereis xxxxnameofprogram" and see what you get. Might be a long list that you have to scroll thru, but it should show you where the program is.

 

You may be able to use slocate or locate too. In the example below I am looking for a program named "bookcase"

 

[kelly@localhost kelly]$ whereis bookcase

bookcase: /usr/bin/bookcase

 

[kelly@localhost kelly]$ locate bookcase

/home/kelly/.kde/share/config/bookcaserc

/home/kelly/.kde/share/applnk-mdk/Office/Accessories/bookcase.desktop

/home/kelly/downloads/Bookcase/bookcasemd5sums.txt

/home/kelly/downloads/Bookcase/bookcase-0.6.4-1rls.i586.rpm

/usr/share/doc/HTML/en/bookcase

/usr/share/doc/HTML/en/bookcase/index.cache.bz2

/usr/share/doc/HTML/en/bookcase/common

/usr/share/doc/HTML/en/bookcase/index.docbook

/usr/share/doc/bookcase-0.6.4

/usr/share/doc/bookcase-0.6.4/ChangeLog

/usr/share/doc/bookcase-0.6.4/AUTHORS

/usr/share/doc/bookcase-0.6.4/COPYING

/usr/share/doc/bookcase-0.6.4/INSTALL

/usr/share/doc/bookcase-0.6.4/README

/usr/share/doc/bookcase-0.6.4/TODO

/usr/share/locale/de/LC_MESSAGES/bookcase.mo

/usr/share/locale/es/LC_MESSAGES/bookcase.mo

/usr/share/locale/ja/LC_MESSAGES/bookcase.mo

/usr/share/locale/nl/LC_MESSAGES/bookcase.mo

/usr/share/locale/it/LC_MESSAGES/bookcase.mo

/usr/share/locale/nb/LC_MESSAGES/bookcase.mo

/usr/share/locale/hu/LC_MESSAGES/bookcase.mo

/usr/share/locale/ro/LC_MESSAGES/bookcase.mo

/usr/share/icons/hicolor/16x16/apps/bookcase.png

/usr/share/icons/hicolor/32x32/apps/bookcase.png

/usr/share/applnk/Applications/bookcase.desktop

/usr/share/apps/bookcase

/usr/share/apps/bookcase/pics

/usr/share/apps/bookcase/pics/bookcase.png

/usr/share/apps/bookcase/pics/book.png

/usr/share/apps/bookcase/pics/person-open.png

/usr/share/apps/bookcase/pics/person.png

/usr/share/apps/bookcase/bibtexml2bookcase.xsl

/usr/share/apps/bookcase/bookcase-by-author.xsl

/usr/share/apps/bookcase/bookcase-by-title.xsl

/usr/share/apps/bookcase/bookcase-printing.xsl

/usr/share/apps/bookcase/bookcase.dtd

/usr/share/apps/bookcase/bookcase2bibtex.xsl

/usr/share/apps/bookcase/bookcase2bibtexml.xsl

/usr/share/apps/bookcase/bookcaseui.rc

/usr/share/mimelnk/application/x-bookcase.desktop

/usr/share/applnk-mdk/Office/Accessories/bookcase.desktop

/usr/lib/menu/bookcase

/usr/bin/bookcase

[kelly@localhost kelly]$

 

The executable file you may need will likely be in /sbin or /usr/bin and you can look for it in Konqueror (like Windows Explorer) too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

First, what is the name of the file that you downloaded. I beleive the correct file name is "glx1_linux_X4.3" Getting the right ati driver file is a little tricky which is why I asked. Here's a link to the right driver for mandrake:

 

http://www.schneider-digital.de/download/a..._linux_X4.3.zip

 

Second, in order to install the driver, you have to have your kernel source installed first. Check to see if the kernel source is installed by running:

 

$ su

<enter root password>

# rpm -qa kernel-source

 

Third, you should not install this driver in graphical mode(i.e. with X running). If you did so or your not sure what I'm talking about post back.

Fourth, that program can only be run as root which is why I think your getting the command not found error. DO NOT RUN IT IN GRAPHICAL MODE!!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...