Hey everybody, sorry for the amateurish question, but how do you get a file open from within the command line?

For instance, i want to edit the devmode enabler to make it visible, and i know i have to edit this file: /usr/lib/luna/system/luna-applauncher/app/controllers/launcher-assistant.js


but, when i enter the command
root@castle:/home/user# vi /usr/lib/luna/system/luna-applauncher/app/controllers/launcher-assistant.js

it simply displays the contents within the command window, leaving me unable to edit it. How do I get them to open within a text editor or something?

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I was wondering the same thing. I was going to enable SFTP, but I don't think I should have to, just to edit a file.

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I'm just rooting via usb on a mac. Hopefully it won't have to get that complicated. Most of the instructions i see imply that no file browser is needed.

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You just have to learn how to use vi, it has an insert mode to change the actual file. I would suggest finding a vi tutorial online if you really want to learn the basics of how it works.

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So if i install a VI client, entering

vi /usr/palm/applications/com.palm.app.devmodeswitcher/appinfo.json

should open the file within Vi instead of just displaying the contents in the terminal window?

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when you see the contents you are using vi - vi defaults to command mode - move to the location where you want to make an edit and press i to change to insert mode - start by googling: vi how to

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sspster,
It has vi built in. You just need to know what to type to edit what its displaying is what I meant.

I found a tutorial on youtube:
YouTube - Vi - Vim Tutorial. Howto video for the amazing vim editor.
(vi on the pre won't have the line numbers like theirs but it should work the same)

vi in 10 minutes - part 1
There are lots more tutorials on the web if that ones not clear enough.

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Does the pre allow sftp connections? I was trying to transfer some files but couldn't seem to connect. If I transfer a file through usb where is this in root so I can move the file?

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Personally, I find vi incredibly difficult to use (the thing you're missing is both having perms to edit the file -- sudo will fix this, and you need to hit i in vi in order to enter INSERT mode).
But jove (a slimmed down emacs build) is available in the optware repo, so I would recommend that if you're looking for something a little easier. And nano is there as well, which I would say is the simplest of the unix command line editors.

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I tried to use nano on the Pre, but it didn't work. You mention it being available in the optware repository- could you explain?

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