Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4: Red Hat Enterprise Linux Step By Step Guide
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# 3.5. Managing Directories

In many ways, directories are treated like files. They can be created, deleted, moved and copied from Nautilus or from a shell prompt, using commands similar to those for files.

## 3.5.1. Creating Directories

You must have write permissions in a directory in order to create a new sub-directory. Most users have these permissions in their home directory (and its sub-directories) and the `/tmp/` directory.

To create a new directory with Nautilus, navigate to the location of your new directory. Right-click in a blank portion of the window and select Create Folder. A new folder icon appears with the highlighted text untitled folder. Type a name for your folder and press <KEYCAP >[Enter]</KEYCAP >.

To create a new directory using a shell prompt, use the command `mkdir`. Enter: `mkdir `<directory-name>``, replacing `<directory-name>` with the intended title of the new directory.

## 3.5.2. Deleting Directories

To delete a directory from Nautilus, right click on it and choose Move to Trash, or click and drag the icon to the Trash on the Desktop.

To delete an empty directory from a shell prompt, enter the command `rmdir`. To delete a directory that may not be empty (and consequently everything inside that directory), enter the command `rm -rf `<directory>``. Refer to Section 4.5.5 Delete files with rm for more information regarding the `rm` command.

## 3.5.3. Dot Directories

Applications create "dot" directories as well as dot files. Dot files are a single hidden configuration file — a dot directory is a hidden directory of configuration and other files required by the application. The non-configuration files in these directories are generally user-specific, and will be available only to the user who installed them.

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