Stringing Commands Together

Linux allows you to enter multiple commands at one time. The only requirement is that you separate the commands with a semicolon (you can see an example in Figure Figure 3-14 ).

Want to see how long you've been online using Netscape? Just combine the date command with Netscape's command.

date; netscape; date

	  

Remember that commands are case sensitive, so the command to start Netscape must be in lower-case to start the browser.

In the Xterm window, we'll see something like this:

[billy@localhost billy]$
 

date; netscape; date



Fri Jul 26 13:26:27 EST 1999

	  

We'll see the second date entry when we close out of Netscape. Then, our screen will look like this:

[billy@localhost billy]$
 

date; netscape; date



Fri Jul 26 13:26:27 EST 1999
Fri Jul 26 14:28:32 EST 1999


[billy@localhost billy]$

	  

And the prompt will return. The discrepancy between the two results from the date command shows that we were using Netscape for just over an hour.