Customizing your environment

Summary

Changes made using the following commands affect the current login session only. If you want to change your prompt permanently, for example, you should modify or add the prompt setting command in the appropriate startup file for your shell.

To change your prompt: In sh or ksh:
PS1=newprompt
In csh:
set prompt=newprompt

To add a directory to your path: In sh or ksh:
PATH=$PATH:newdir
In csh:
set path=(/bin /usr/bin $HOME/bin newdir .)

To change the default file permissions: umask permsmask

To change where the shell looks for mail and the new mail message: In sh:
MAILPATH=pathname%message
In ksh:
MAILPATH=pathname?message
In csh:
set MAILPATH=pathname
(You cannot change the new mail message in csh.)

To change how often your shell looks for new mail: In sh or ksh:
MAILCHECK=seconds
In csh:
set MAIL=(seconds pathname)

To create a command alias: In sh:
aliasname() { command
}
In ksh:
alias aliasname='command'
In csh:
alias aliasname 'command'

For more information about See

File permissions chmod(C)

File creation mask umask(C)

The files your shell reads at startup ``Sample shell startup files''

The Bourne shell ``Automating frequent tasks''
sh(C)

The Korn shell ``Automating frequent tasks''
ksh(C)

The C shell ``Automating frequent tasks''
csh(C)

To change your prompt:	In sh or ksh: `PS1=`*newprompt* In csh: `set prompt=`*newprompt*
To add a directory to your path:	In sh or ksh: `PATH=$PATH:`*newdir* In csh: `set path=(/bin /usr/bin $HOME/bin` *newdir* `.)`
To change the default file permissions:	`umask` *permsmask*
To change where the shell looks for mail and the new mail message:	In sh: `MAILPATH=`*pathname`%`message* In ksh: `MAILPATH=`*pathname`?`message* In csh: `set MAILPATH=`*pathname* (You cannot change the new mail message in csh.)
To change how often your shell looks for new mail:	In sh or ksh: `MAILCHECK=`*seconds* In csh: `set MAIL=(`*seconds* *pathname*)
To create a command alias:	In sh: *aliasname`() {` command* `}` In ksh: `alias` *aliasname`='`command`'` In csh: `alias` aliasname* `'`*command*`'`

For more information about	See
File permissions	chmod(C)
File creation mask	umask(C)
The files your shell reads at startup	``Sample shell startup files''
The Bourne shell	``Automating frequent tasks'' sh(C)
The Korn shell	``Automating frequent tasks'' ksh(C)
The C shell	``Automating frequent tasks'' csh(C)