allias in .bash_profile not working

UNIX Solaris
1

I am using solaris 10 x86. I have created a .bash_profile under root's home directory(/). The contents of the file are:

Solaris10u8/# cat .bash_profile
export PATH=$PATH:/usr/sfw/bin
export PS1='\h\w\$ '
export PAGER="less -imsq"
alias ll='ls -l'
alias la='ls -a'

The problem is that:

Everything in the file executes properly except the alias lines.
When i run "ll' or "la" from bash prompt(root's shell) i get the following error:

bash: ll: command not found

bash: la: command not found

What is the problem out here? I cant sort it out.

Only after sourcing the .bash_profile file that 'll" and "la" work.

2

Hi proactiveaditya,

Just a guess here ...

I've always been using double quotes (") instead of single (') quotes when it comes to aliases in a .bash_profile

Might want to give it a shot.

3

Changed .bash_profile to

Solaris10u8/# cat .bash_profile
export PATH=$PATH:/usr/sfw/bin
export PS1='\h\w\$ '
export PAGER="less -imsq"
alias ll="ls -l"
alias la="ls -a"

But still not working.

4

I have to ask it, you logged out and then back in ?

5

yes i did that to make the changes take effect.

6

can you run below and try ll command again

 
bash -l
7

Try it as .bashrc

8

The contents of .bash_profile should be like this:

# Get the aliases and functions
if [ -f ~/.bashrc ]; then
        . ~/.bashrc
fi
export PATH=$PATH:/usr/sfw/bin
export PS1='\h\w\$ '
export PAGER="less -imsq"

And the content of .bashrc should be:

alias ll='ls -l'
alias la='ls -a'