Not able to use setenv

[Broan13]

So I have no idea how to really use linux or what most of these commands mean/do. That being said, simple responses would be best for me during this rough times of learning this.

This computer is running Red Hat but I am not sure what version (not my pc), but I am trying to do this...

///In your .cshrc file, change your IDLPATH environment variable to have these two directories as the first two items e.g.

setenv IDL_PATH +/home/john/smart:+/home/john/IRS_Calibration:+/usr/local/lib ///

I am using some not terribly user friendly software for data reduction and because of some issues I have to make this changes, but I have found that setenv does not work. What do I need to do. And is .cshrc the same thing is .bashrc?

[Rubberman]

Is your user account configured to run the C-shell (/bin/csh)? Or is it still set to use /bin/bash? If bash, then you need to add this to ~/.bash_profile:

export IDL_PATH="${IDL_PATH}:/home/john/smart:/home/john/IRS_Calibration:/usr/local/lib"

I don't know what the trailing slashes are for. Also, if you are setting the variable in the C-shell, then you need to add this to ~/.login and not .cshrc:

setenv IDL_PATH "${IDL_PATH}:/home/john/smart:/home/john/IRS_Calibration:/usr/local/lib"

The quotes are in case there are spaces in the IDL_PATH variable when you add the new path components.

Also, you spelled the variable name with and without an _, as in IDL_PATH and IDLPATH. Which ever is correct, that is the name you need to use in the commands.