UNix Executable File

pingoy82

Registered
Hi new transfer from PC to MAC here :) so far I havn't had problems on opening files and programs so far on my mac book, well except for how to open a UNIX executable file :) much help would be appreciated and please make the instructions simple hehehe
 
In general, an executable is runnable within a shell. That doesn't mean you should run it, though.

What's the specific situation?
 
Often, Mac OS X calls a file which it doesn't know what to do with, a "UNIX executable file". Do you know what the files are and with what kind of application it would probably open?
 
Use file command in Terminal.app

$ file the-name-of-the-file

For PPC programs, you get something like

$ file /usr/bin/tile
/usr/bin/tail: Mach-O executable ppc

Normall OS X programs are actually directories, like

$ file /Applications/Aperture.app
/Applications/Aperture.app: directory

and for Universal applications:

$ cd /Applications/Aperture.app/Contents/MacOS
$ file Aperture
Aperture: Mach-O fat file with 2 architectures
Aperture (for architecture ppc): Mach-O executable ppc
Aperture (for architecture i386): Mach-O executable i386
 
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