OPEN(1L) OPEN(1L)
Local Commands
NAME
open, appopen, run, unhide - open files and applications
SYNOPSIS
open [-a app] [-o file] [-p] [-NXHost hostname] [-unhide] [-nostat]
[-wait] [-temp] [+linenum] [filename] ...
appopen app
run app
unhide app
app [options]
DESCRIPTION
The open command allows shell scripts or Terminal users to make
requests to NEXTSTEP applications. The applications may be launched or
unhidden, can be asked to open or print files. Besides the added
options, it should behave exactly like earlier (working) versions of
NeXT's open command did. It does not require the ``Public Window
Server'' switch (a major security hole) in the Preferences application
to be turned on to work correctly.
If no options are given at all or the special file name "-" is used,
standard input is read. PostScript (.ps), Encapsulated PostScript
(.eps), and Rich Text Format (.rtf) files are recognized on standard
input and sent to the appropriate applications. All other files are
considered typeless, i.e. they are opened in either the named
application (see -a) or the default application (normally Edit).
Wherever the word file is used, it also applies to wrappers and
ordinary directories.
OPTIONS
-a app
All further requests are directed to the named application. The
application is launched if it is not running yet. If no -a option
is given, the Workspace is asked for the default application for
the files.
-o file
The application will be asked to open the named file. This option
can be used to switch back from print mode or to prefix a file
name which could be mistaken as an option. File names can also be
escaped from being mistaken as an option by prefixing them with
`./' (this also works with all other commands).
-p The application will be asked to print the specified files. Print
mode will apply to all files given up to the next -o option.
-NXHost hostname
All requests are directed to the Workspace and applications on
the remote host. The files to be accessed are looked for on the
remote host's file system. This option requires the ``Public
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OPEN(1L) OPEN(1L)
Local Commands
Window Server'' switch on the remote host to be turned on, which
is major security hole, if you are connected to a network.
-unhide
The named application is unhidden. Most applications will also
unhide on a file opening request.
-nostat
The checks whether the next file to be opened or printed does not
exist will not be performed. In case of failure of a request to
an application, it is not possible to find out whether the file
did not exist or the application could not open it. It is
necessary for -NXHost, unless there is also a local file with the
same name as the remote file. This option also allows certain
applications (such as Emacs) to open files that do not exist yet.
-wait
open will not continue until the next file given is saved for the
first time.
-temp
The next file will be opened as a temporary file. This tells the
application it should remove the file when it is done. Despite it
belongs to the official API, only few applications (such as
Preview) honor this request.
+linenum
In the next file, line number linenum will automatically be
selected. This is currently only supported by Edit and Emacs.
ALTERNATE NAMES
open can also be invoked by other names, where some defaults are
automatically set.
run app, appopen app
Behave as if it was invoked as open -a app.
unhide app
Identical to open -a app -unhide.
app If open is invoked with any other name, it behaves as if it were
called as open -a app.
EXAMPLES
open *.rtf
opens all files ending in `.rtf' in the default application for
this file type (usually Edit).
open -p *.rtf
prints all these files.
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OPEN(1L) OPEN(1L)
Local Commands
open /tmp
opens up a new file viewer showing the contents of the named
directory.
appopen Yap Test.ps
launches Yap (if it is not already running) and asks it to open
Test.ps.
Emacs *
opens all files in Emacs (`Emacs' needs to be a link to `open').
open -a Emacs -wait snd.2935
asks Emacs to open the file. open will not continue unless the
file has been saved. This is an alternative to using emacsclient
as your editor from within Unix programs.
BUGS
The -p, -temp and +linenum options are only supported by few
applications.
-NXHost should imply -nostat. The current behaviour is compatible to
the original open.
-NXHost requires ``Public Window Server'' (a major security hole) to
be turned on (this is not our fault).
AUTHORS
This version of open was written by Christian Limpach <chris@nice.ch>,
with suggestions by Felix Rauch <felix@nice.ch> and Marcel Waldvogel
<waldvogel@uptime.ch>. This manual page was written by Marcel
Waldvogel.
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