How do you run bash script as a command?

Question

I have a bash script, which I use for configuration of different parameters in text files in my wireless access media server.

The script is located in one directory, and

Answer 1

You can place a softlink to the script under /usr/local/bin (Should be in $PATH like John said)

ln -s /path/to/script /usr/local/bin/scriptname

This should do the trick.

Answer 2

The script needs to be executable, with:

chmod +x scriptname

(or similar).

Also, you want the script to be located in a directory that is in your PATH. To see your PATH use:

echo $PATH

Your choices are: to move (or link) the file into one of those directories, or to add the directory it is in to your PATH.

You can add a directory to your PATH with:

PATH=$PATH:/name/of/my/directory

and if you do this in the file $HOME/.bashrc it will happen for each of your shell's automatically.

Answer 3

Another way is to run it with:

/bin/bash /path/to/script

Then the file doesn't need to be executable.

Answer 4

You can write a minimal wrapper in your home directory:

#!/bin/bash
exec /yourpath/yourfile.extension

And run your child script with this command ./NameOfYourScript

update: Unix hawks will probably say the first solution is a no-brainer because of the additional admin work it will load on you. Agreed, but on your requirements, my solution works :)

Otherwise, you can use an alias; you will have to amend your .bashrc

alias menu='bash /yourpath/menuScript.sh'