graphics\howbutt.gifUsing the Console

Console lets you access the command line in three modes: Linux Console, Shell, and Midnight Commander. Linux Console mode displays the default shell in a Console window. Shell mode displays the Bourne shell in a Console Window. Midnight Commander mode displays the visual shell, Midnight Commander, in the Console window. For more information about working in Midnight Commander mode, see "Working with Midnight Commander." For information about shell commands, see "Working with a shell."

You can open more than one shell session simultaneously. For example, to write a computer program, you can open one shell session to write and edit code, a second session to compile the code, and a third session to view reference material such as Manual pages.

You can also open multiple shell sessions in different command line modes. For example, you can open a shell session in Midnight Commander mode to organize your file system, and another shell session in Linux Console mode to write or compile a computer program using your default shell. You can switch between shell sessions.

You can customize the appearance of the Console window. For example, you can change the font size, window size, or window color. You can also save custom appearance settings.