Modify Prompt
Linux Commands - Shells
Create a colored prompt
You may want to create a color prompt that you can use for visibility.  In this example the hostname has been dropped to make a shorter prompt and the prompt is turned red but the commands that you enter will be black.  The export command will change these features.

Lesson 10 / Lesson 12

mike@ub:~$ export PS1='\e[0;31m[\u:\w]\$ \e[m '
[mike:~]$

This will color the prompt but not any commands that you enter.

List of Color code s
Color     Code
Black         0;30
Blue         0;34
Green         0;32
Cyan         0;36
Red         0;31
Purple     0;35
Brown     0;33
Blue         0;34
Green         0;32
Cyan         0;36
Red         0;31
Purple     0;35
Brown     0;33

Replace digit 0 with 1 for a lighter color.

Make Changes Permanent
All of the changes you make will be lost when you close the terminal or log out.  Here are directions to make them permanent.

Ubuntu
# uncomment for a colored prompt, if the terminal has the capability; turned
# off by default to not distract the user: the focus in a terminal window
# should be on the output of commands, not on the prompt
#force_colored_prompt=yes

The .bashrc file in each user's home directory allows you to change the default for the prompt to a color prompt by uncommenting the line:

#force_colored_prompt=yes

Unfortunately a typo in the line must also be corrected so that it should read:
force_color_prompt=yes

Ubuntu or CentOS
Place your custom prompt in the user .bashrc file with this command:

export PS1='\e[0;31m[\u:\w]\$ \e[m '

 

 

Copyright CyberMontana Inc. and BeginLinux.com
All rights reserved. Cannot be reproduced without written permission. Box 1262 Trout Creek, MT 59874