how do you "run" a .cshrc?

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Level 1

111 points

how do you "run" a .cshrc?

Back in my days with Sun computers when I was using a .env.private file (k-shell I think). I used to change this file with new aliases or whatever and then I could just type . .env.private and it would run the file and the new stuff would be active. I don't see how to do this on the Mac... can anyone help me there?

My terminal window says I'm using a tcsh but I haven't justified why I need a .tcshrc instead of a .cshrc.

Thanks!

iMac G5, Mac OS X (10.4.8), 1G, stock otherwise

Posted on Mar 21, 2007 4:09 AM

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Answer 1

Zerwas

Level 4

1,154 points

Mar 21, 2007 5:24 AM in response to ZBurnett

For loading the enivronment file use: source .[t]cshrc.

The tcsh is nearly the same as the cshrc. The t representents the Tennex shell, with some enhancers. This say, you can use both files, but the .tcshrc will reads first.

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Answer 2

j.v.

Level 5

4,155 points

Mar 21, 2007 10:05 AM in response to ZBurnett

In Terminal, can't you just type sh .tcshrc⏎ or sh .cshrc⏎ then the new stuff will be active?

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Answer 3

Bill Scott

Level 6

11,465 points

Mar 21, 2007 10:07 AM in response to ZBurnett

The shell runs it automatically, so your question is probably: "How do I run the csh-shell?"

To switch to tcsh (csh with a brain, such as it is), type

chsh -s /bin/tcsh

then open a new terminal window and .cshrc will have been executed for you.

to get (back to) bash,

chsh -s /bin/bash

to change to the best shell in the world,

chsh -s /bin/zsh

[t]csh syntax is incompatible with the other shells.

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Answer 4

Bill Scott

Level 6

11,465 points

Mar 21, 2007 10:08 AM in response to Bill Scott

oh, and if you have .tcshrc, it won't look at .cshrc

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Answer 5

ZBurnett Author

Level 1

111 points

Mar 21, 2007 11:28 AM in response to Zerwas

Thanks - sorry to the others here that I wasn't entirely clear... I didn't want to just "run" a .cshrc but re-run it right after some edits. You'd probably have to know ksh to know that SUN . thing. So thanks for the stuff about how to switch shells...but that wasn't my question...

I don't have any clue what the command "sh" is or what it's doing but it just seems to echo everything in my .cshrc but new edits didn't take affect for me. I'm somewhat confused why "man sh" tells me all about BASH but I imagine there's some sort of deep UNIX logic as to why that is.

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Answer 6

Zerwas

Level 4

1,154 points

Mar 21, 2007 11:37 AM in response to ZBurnett

The source command is not for change the shell. It reloads the environment file, when you have made changes.

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Answer 7

ZBurnett Author

Level 1

111 points

Mar 21, 2007 11:43 AM in response to Zerwas

I understand... that was exactly what I needed
Thanks!

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Answer 8

Bill Scott

Level 6

11,465 points

Mar 21, 2007 11:59 AM in response to ZBurnett

sh is the original Bourne shell. The /bin/sh on OS X (and linux) is bash, which stands for Bourne Again SHell.

source ~/.cshrc

would be all you need if you are already in the tcsh, or simply open a new terminal window.

zsh is essentially a user-friendly ksh, and is the subject of a bit of evangilism here (I am a convert). ksh is now also available in OS X 10.4.x, if you want it.

<pre>
ls -lF /bin/*sh

-rwxr-xr-x 1 root wheel 568K Dec 13 06:39 /bin/bash*
-r-xr-xr-x 1 root wheel 338K Dec 29 2005 /bin/csh*
-r-xr-xr-x 1 root wheel 875K Dec 29 2005 /bin/ksh*
-r-xr-xr-x 1 root wheel 568K Dec 13 06:39 /bin/sh*
-r-xr-xr-x 1 root wheel 338K Dec 29 2005 /bin/tcsh*
-rwxr-xr-x 2 root wheel 492K Mar 2 2006 /bin/zsh*

</pre>

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