Unix newbie seeks web guide recommendation

[robpitt]

I've got my new account and have started playing with it via Windows telnet/ftp.

BUT my unix skills are pretty poor so could someone recommend a web guide to get me upto speed?

In particular:
An overview of typical unix directory structure.
The best way to edit small files remotely (I tried VI but couldn't locate the tutorial "$VIMRUNTIME/tutor/tutor"???).

Thanks,

Rob

PS Also seeking recommendations for alternate telnet/ftp clients for Windows.

[robpitt]

Okay getting somewhere at last. I've found a few useful links including... http://www.cs.bu.edu/help/unix/main_menu.html

Oh and the VI tutorial file is at /usr/share/vim/vim56/tutor/tutor (Note /bin/vimtutor is broken and doesn't find this)

Best of all I've discovered the --help switch! That ones really intuitive not.

:-)

Rob

[BOF]

Hi Rob,

Can't help with the Unix bits, but for an FTP client I find WS-FTP is as good as any.

Good luck![nbsp][nbsp]:)
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Chris
Hong Kong
www.simplyaromatics.com (http://www.simplyaromatics.com)
www.plainwebdesign.com (http://www.plainwebdesign.com)

[sheila]

rob,

If you really want to learn vi, here are some vi links:
http://dmoz.org/Computers/Software/Editors/Vi/

I think that Pico is easier. That's what I use. To run Pico, if you wanted to edit index.html you would type
$ pico index.html

For links for learning Unix systems, try this:
http://dmoz.org/Computers/Software/Operating_Systems/Unix/Documentation/

Good Luck!

[robpitt]

Thanks Shelia,

VI is an abomination and I've given up with it. PICO does indeed seem much more user friendly.

I've now worked through a few tutorials and am making rapid progress.

I was about to ask about why I can't run my C++ test program... then I did a search and found your question & the solution...

[nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp]$ ./hello
[nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp]Hello World[nbsp][nbsp]
Marvalous indeed!

Rob

[This message has been edited by robpitt (edited 06-04-01@09:57 am)]

[Bruce]

I must interject here.[nbsp][nbsp]VI is not an abomination, although it certainly lacks in the "user friendly" area, and is very much unlike current editors.[nbsp][nbsp]I tend to only use it for short things, and stick with emacs for actual programming.
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Bruce Guenter, FutureQuest
http://untroubled.org/

[koala]

Hi Rob
Also seeking recommendations for alternate telnet/ftp clients for Windows FTP: CuteFTP or CuteFTP Pro - http://www.globalscape.com/
Telnet: CRT - http://www.vandyke.com/

Best regards, and Welcome to FQ :)

Simon

[sheila]

Heh, I don't think that vi is an abomination, but certainly isn't intuitive. I understand that it is quite a powerful editor, once you get the hang of it. Many sing its praises.

Some suggestions for software (since you asked):

For FTP (and much, much more):
Windows Commander
http://www.ghisler.com/

For Telnet:
EasyTerm
http://www.arachnoid.com/easyterm/index.html

[John Kennett]

Rob

The best on-line UNIX tutorial I have found so far is Selena Sol's "Introduction to UNIX for Web Developers" at
http://selena.c-com.net/tutorials/unix/

John

[robpitt]

Hi all,

I've now tried a few packages. These are the best I've found so far...

[nbsp][nbsp]Secure CRT www.vandyke.com (http://www.vandyke.com) Shareware $99
[nbsp][nbsp]There's also a basic version for $35 (thanks for the tip Simon).

[nbsp][nbsp]Flash FXP www.flashfxp.com (http://www.flashfxp.com) Shareware $25
[nbsp][nbsp]Really simple and a much nicer interface than the competition (IMHO).

[nbsp][nbsp]HomeSite www.allaire.com/products/homesite (http://www.allaire.com/products/homesite) Shareware $89
[nbsp][nbsp]Excellent HTML / PHP editor with syntax highlighting & keyword auto-completion, dropdowns etc. Loads of features including the abilty to edit files directly via FTP!

Anyway thanks for all the suggestions.

Rob

PS Apologies to the VI fans I upset. Granted VI may be very powerful once you've learnt it, but learning it via the (IMO) very poor integrated help is especially hard for the newbie user.

[MwM]

Rob,

For a real nifty programmer's type web page editor with support for tons of script languages and... well, the list is way too long, try HTML-Kit.[nbsp][nbsp]You can pick up a free (and it stays free) copy at http://www.chami.com . I have been using it for quite some time and I seldom fire up anything else.

It's like the meow de gato web page editor <smile>

Michael

[robpitt]

Michael, HTML-Kit looks great!

It seems a complete clone of HomeSite and its FREE for personal use or just $25 for buisnesses.


------------------
Rob

[GregJ]

Speaking of editors on unix...

I almost never directly edit on a unix box any more.

I use UltraEdit and it has a built-in OPEN VIA FTP feature that works fantastic.

I open the file, it grabs it from the defined place, I edit, and I save it back.[nbsp][nbsp]That way I get to use a windows based editor and don't have to mess with the FTP before and after.

I love it.


------------------
Greg

[dank]

Wouldn't that also mean that you never have a local backup?[nbsp][nbsp]If so, I'd say the risks far outweigh the convenience...

Dan

[PaulKroll]

EditPlus, http://www.editplus.com, can also do FTP and you can tell it to &quot;Upload all open files to the specified directory&quot; so you work on your local copy, and send whatever you're working on to the production server when you're ready.

UltraEdit probably does this too, but I don't use it so I don't know. :)