[NTLUG:Discuss] PATH issue

[Hank Ivy]

On Thursday, July 28, 2011 11:09 pm Fred James wrote:
> In tracking down another problem (possibly related) I found that my PATH
> is set as follows ...
> /bin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/games:/usr/lib/qt4/bin:/usr/lib/qt3//bin:
> /usr/lib/qt4/bin:/usr/lib/qt3//bin:/home/fredjame/bin:/usr/lib/qt4/bin:/usr
> /lib/qt3//bin ... wherein that last bit (:/usr/lib/qt3//bin) looks like a
> possible show stopper(?) for some things, but I cannot seem to locate
> where that is being set.

Note:  It is being set twice.
Note:  The double slash is usually treated as a single slash.
  Walk through the folders manually to check it out.

Tracking down where the PATH is set:
Look at the man or info of the shell you are using.  There will be a section on initial 
operations run by the shell. It will run scripts like /etc/profile, or /etc/login in some order.  
Find all of them on your system.  

Edit them to add commands like "echo Running /etc/... whatever", 
and "echo $PATH".
Do this at the beginning and end of the script.  You want before and after snapshots.

Login and see what is in your terminal window.

If your normal console window in a GUI session seems to skip the first files, try starting a non-
GUI session.  Do a console login.

Have fun.

-- 
Hank Ivy

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