Overview

Today's session will continue the introduction to Wilkes1 that we introduced on Monday. By the end of today's session, you will know:

1. The difference between GUI and command-driven interfaces

2. How to log into your account on Wilkes1, and navigate among various directories.

3. The general nature of Unix, and a few basic Unix commands.

4. How to edit files on Wilkes1 using Pico.

5. How to send and receive e-mail messages on Wilkes1 using Pine.

Once upon a time, computer users interacted with their machines solely by use of commands that were entered into the system by means of punchcards, and later by typewriter-like devices connected to the mainframe. Successful communication with the computer required the user to know a language like Fortran, Basic, COBOL, APL, and the like. Those commands had to be typed onto a card or entered into a screen and submitted to the computer. The computer responded with a printout on paper or the screen.

The way that people interacted with computers changed radically in the mid-1980s with the implementation of the graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI (pronounced "gooey") was popularized thanks to the Macintosh operating system, developed by Apple Computer. Instead of typing commands according to a language, the user was able to view options on a screen that appeared as icons (picture symbols). The user could then enter commands by selecting an icon, usually either by pressing the <ENTER> key on the keyboard, by "clicking" a computer mouse button, or by touching the icon on a touch pad. (See this link for an even better definition of GUI).

Later in the 1980s, Microsoft developed their own GUI software (that many believe was extensively "borrowed" from Macintosh) that was marketed under the Windows trade name. Windows software was able to be run on IBM-based computers, and compatible clones offered by other manufacturers. Initially, Windows ran with command-driven software called MS-DOS, also produced by Microsoft. Thanks to their lower price, the public gravitated to Windows-compatible computers, and today's Windows-dominated market is a legacy of that pricing strategy.

In this course, you will have an exposure to a command-driven interface, by virtue of your experience with the Wilkes1 system. Wilkes1 uses a Unix operating system.

All students have access to an account on the Wilkes1 network. The first part of today's session is geared toward having you learn how to log on to Wilkes1, navigate through directories, identify files, and properly log out.

As we discussed on Monday, you are able to access Wilkes1 using an application called "telnet." That application has been pre-loaded onto your computers in SLC 216. Your personal computer may already have its own version of telnet. If not, it is a shareware program that can be downloaded from the web.

As you learned on Wednesday, you can launch telnet can be launched directly from your web-browser. You may also directly open it from the icon on your desktop. Since you are already using your browser, we'll use that option.

To do (refresher stuff):

1. In the web-address window on your browser, type the command

telnet://wilkes1.wilkes.edu

2. Wait until the telnet program launches and prompts you to log in.

3. Type your login name.

4. Type your password exactly as given on your card. Make sure that you type capital letters where appropriate. Note that your password should not appear on the screen.

If you are successful, you should see a bunch of information about your account scroll by. If you are not successful, retype your login and password, taking care to get every character correct. Please note that if you fail to successfully log-in on three consecutive attempts, telnet will spontaneously quit. You would need to start it back up by following Step 1.

 

New stuff:

Items stored in your wilkes1 account include files and directories. Files include documents, images, HTML pages, spreadsheets, and the like. Directories are collections of files (and other directories), and essentially act as file folders.

Since directories can be placed in other directories, it is possible to create a hierarchy, whereby upper-level directories contain lower-level directories. Being able to more from one directory to another is an important skill that can easily be mastered. You will accomplish this via a few simple Unix commands.

To see what files and directories are in your account:

1. Type the letters "ls" (without the quotations).

How many named items do you have? How many are files? How many are directories? How can you tell?

Next, see where you are in the directory hierarchy.

1. Type "cd ~"

You should see a string that goes something like "/home/acad/users/yourlogin"

Now navigate into my account and see what web documents I have there.

1. Type "cd .." as many times as it takes to get you into the directory "/home/acad"

2. Type "cd staff"

3. Type "cd kklemow"

4. Type "cd webdocs"

5. Type "ls"

Now go back to your own account.

1. Type "cd ~"

Now log out (temporarily)

1. Type "logout"

As you might imagine, Unix is a rich, complex operating system that allows users to accomplish many tasks. To utilize its full potential, the "power user" must know dozens of commands.

You will not be asked to master the full lexicon of Unix. Instead, you will be shown a webpage that covers some of the basic commands, and your instructor will go over a few with you.

It is possible to edit files on Wilkes1 using the "pico" command.

Pico is a simple editor that has fewer features than a word processor (e.g. Microsoft Word) and is used in this class only for creating small files directly on wilkes1. A full featured word processor allows you to create, format, edit, collate, and print documents located on the hard drive or floppy disk of PCs. In contrast, pico allows you to create simple ASCII text files directly in your account on wilkes1.

A few sites that describe pico in more detail are given below:

• Stanford University
• UNC-Greensboro
• University of Michigan

To do:

Telnet to wilkes1.

1. You know what to do, so do it!!.

Create a .signature file (note the dot before the word "signature"). At the wilkes1> prompt,

1. Type "pico .signature"

Notice the space after pico, which is the name of the program you want to run. You should be aware that spaces can be very important to the computer and in this case separate the program name "pico" from the file that is being edited ".signature". Try leaving out the space and see what response you get.

2. Type a .signature file that contains at least your name and correct e-mail address. Feel free to add another line containing a witty saying or something else noteworthy.

For example:

Kenneth M. Klemow, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology and Friend to Mankind
kklemow@wilkes.edu

Note!!: The menu bar on the bottom of pico shows the available commands. The caret (^) represents the control key. For example, the menu bar shows ^O WriteOut, this means simultaneously hold the control key and the "O" to save (Write out) the file you are working on.

3. After typing a line similar to that shown above use the ^O WriteOut command to save the file.

4. Use the ^X command to exit pico.

Many students are aware that modern communication centers on the ability to send and receive electronic messages (e-mail) between computers linked to the Internet. E-mail provides a fast, low-cost way of communicating to people throughout the world. Moreover, it serves as the basis for sending files as attachments to others.

E-mail can be accessed through Wilkes1, through "handling programs" like Eudora, or through web-based programs like "Hotmail."

• The advantage of accessing your e-mail through Wilkes 1 is that you can check your messages from any computer linked to the Internet.
• Conversely, the advantage of using a handling program is that you will have the ability to see complex formatting (colors, fonts, styles) that might be embedded in messages sent to you. Moreover, handling programs allow you to see graphical images, and send and receive attachments in an easier fashion.

Accessing your e-mail using your Wilkes1 account is often done by using a program called Pine. Pine was developed at the University of Washington. Check out their site.

To do:

Access Pine from your wilkes1 account.

1. Make sure that you are logged into your home directory on wilkes1. If you are not sure, type "cd ~"

2. Type "Pine" (you do not have to use caps)

You should see a menu of options that will allow you to compose a new message, check current e-mail messages, update your address book. Below the menu is a series of keyboard commands that will allow you to do various tasks by typing appropriate keys.

See what folders are in your list

1. Type "L"

How many folders do you see?

2. Highlight the names of the folders by moving the appropriate arrows.

View the e-mail messages that may be accumulated in your inbox.

1. Select the "inbox" folder and hit return (alternatively, you can type "M" to return to the main menu, and then Type "I" to see the list).

2. Determine the number of messages that you have.

Open one message

1. Scroll up or down using the arrow keys until you locate a message of interest.

2. Hit "return" to view your message.

Now that you know how to access your e-mail through Pine, it's time for you to compose and send one of your own using that system. This will be done in the form of an exercise that will count as a graded assignment.

A description of that assignment is given here.