How to use dos2unix?

Question

I am learning perl programming. I have run a perl script in windows platform but I need to run it in Linux platform like in Ubuntu. My script run perfectly in windows but not in Linux. I am not familiar with dos2unix tool. I am struggling about how to use it in my windows 7 and how to convert my winfile to unixfile. Suppose my perl script is test.pl and coding are inside. Now how can I make this script work properly in Linux using dos2unix tool? Besides, where should I unzip dos2unix tool?

Solution 1

You should be able to get dos2unix from your package manager on Linux.

If you are using a Debian-based distro, you should be able to do sudo apt-get install dos2unix.

If you are using a RH-like distro, you should be able to do sudo yum install dos2unix.

Once it is installed, you can just give the target file as an argument'

dos2unix test.pl

Also, note that this may not be the only problem you might run into while trying to move a script to Linux from Windows.

For example, if you are invoking any external tools in your script, those tools will probably have different names or not exist at all on the other platform.

Also, if you are using any relative file paths with path separators, the separator is different on Linux (which uses /) than Windows (which uses \).

Solution 2

Another option would be to use a text editor on windows that supports UNIX line endings.

Which text editors handle both Windows- and Unix-style line breaks properly?

Comments

[merlin2011]

@SSh, Please update your question with exactly what you mean by "those commands aren't working".

[SSh]

I am using Ubuntu. I tried "sudo apt-get dos2unix" and "sudo yum install dos2unix" commands aren't working.

[merlin2011]

@SSh, On Ubuntu the first command should work unless you are not an admin on your server. What error do you get?

[merlin2011]

@SSh, Also I assume you are opening a terminal and typing these commands, rather than in the Ubuntu search utility.

[SSh]

You are correct. I am using ubuntu from my pendrive. Can't find Ubuntu search utility.

[merlin2011]

@SSh, I hope your acceptance of the answer implies that you got it to work.

[SSh]

I can't find any search utility in MAC OS X. Only can find terminal. Can you help pls?

[merlin2011]

@SSh, I think you are looking for spotlight. Go to the top right corner of your screen and click on the icon that is up there.

[SSh]

That is just a search option. I am looking for what you told me to do. I need to use sudo apt-get dos2unix command. But where can I use this? i can just find terminal on MAC

[merlin2011]

@SSh, There is no apt-get on OSX, because it is not Debian-based. Unfortunately, I do not possess an Apple machine, so I do not know the details of OSX's package manager. If you cannot find it online, you may have to ask a new question.

[SSh]

I have just added the code I am struggling with. Can you make time to check the code?

[merlin2011]

@SSh, Please ask a new question rather than modifying an existing question.