Develop Bugs

Ok, seriously...what is a shell?!?!

- on your PC open a shell again and do:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried and tried to find a simple explanation of 'what is a shell?' and get more and more confused.
Is this ADB? What is ADB and where is all that code everyone says to type supposed to go? I have the sdk, I have eclipse...I have never found 'a shell'
Now...here is what I think I know...
- Is that DOS window you get from run>command line a shell?
- What is with some people running ADB from C: directory and others saying you have to get all the way to the sdk directory?
(BTW...at one point I went into command window and ran some adb kill command on a running app in my emulator...it worked...but I still have NO idea what I did.)
So...is there an "Extremely" simple explanation of what this is all about"?
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From a wiki I got this "COMMAND.COM – shell for various DOS versions including Windows 95-98-ME, also present in the operating systems of the Windows NT-2000 and XP substreams. MS-DOS Command.com is directly available when using OS/2 on a dual-boot configuration." which is why I attempted the above.
But if command.com is a shell why dont we say that...why all this shell business?
I know many of you are shaking your head...but lets assume I am like 70 and need you to teach me how to double click...lets go with that...

Shell is the command line, there are a few different programs that are run as command shells; bash (is the default one for most linux distros) and command.com (is the default for windows). If you use ADB Shell it basicly routes your phones bash shell through to your command line (be it windows or linux) You need to use a terminal emulator to access the shell on your phone directly (they can be found in the market)
ADB is the Android Debug Bridge it allows us to remotely access phones shell, push files to the phone, pull files from the phone, some other stuff to. It is part of the Android SDK and thus is bundled with it. I do belive HTC Sync might install it as well, however.

adb shell
'nuff said

midri said:
Shell is the command line, there are a few different programs that are run as command shells; bash (is the default one for most linux distros) and command.com (is the default for windows). If you use ADB Shell it basicly routes your phones bash shell through to your command line (be it windows or linux) You need to use a terminal emulator to access the shell on your phone directly (they can be found in the market)
ADB is the Android Debug Bridge it allows us to remotely access phones shell, push files to the phone, pull files from the phone, some other stuff to. It is part of the Android SDK and thus is bundled with it. I do belive HTC Sync might install it as well, however.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok...thanks for trying to clear it up.
Now..you run the command....adb shell...from command.com (in windows?) So are you actually setting up a shell inside a shell? Earlier I found a post that said...
- on your PC open a shell again and do:
adb shell
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now I tried that...I cd back to C:\ and typed in adb shell...and got an error about adb not being recognized internal/external command.
So...see...still so much newbies can't find...

SteelH said:
adb shell
'nuff said
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Click to collapse
uhm....see and that helps no one...ok well doesn't help me at all. If you asked me to explain the adenosine tri-phosphate cycle and I said...ATP baby...would that help at all?
I thought not.

sablesurfer said:
Now I tried that...I cd back to C:\ and typed in adb shell...and got an error about adb not being recognized internal/external command.
So...see...still so much newbies can't find...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
because you either have to do it from the "android-sdk/tools" folder or add the path to the environment variables in the advanced system properties.

t3project said:
because you either have to do it from the "android-sdk/tools" folder or add the path to the environment variables in the advanced system properties.
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Click to collapse
Ah hah...ok. I recall just following the instructions on the error message that popped up and it had the whole path in there. (Had to reach back to my DOS (win3.1) days to do that in command window.)
Ok...so this is what I figured out from a video and your comment. Right click 'my computer'...'advanced' tab...'environment variables' button. Then find the 'Path' option in the system variables section and ADD...';C:\path\to\folder\android'
Once I have that then just from any old prompt it will find ADB? I can be at c:\> or c:\documents and Settings\sablesurfer>
Is that right?
Ok...all this research lead to next question about the shells...if you type adb shell....does that mean the phone must be connected to computer? I guess so now that I write that out...because you only use adb shell to interact with the phone in first place...right?

You need to add the /tools folder in the android ask folder to your path. i.e. c:\android-sdk\tools if that is where you extracted it. All the tools like adb.exe and fastboot.exe are in the tools did not the android-sdk folder.

frankenstein\ said:
You need to add the /tools folder in the android ask folder to your path. i.e. c:\android-sdk\tools if that is where you extracted it. All the tools like adb.exe and fastboot.exe are in the tools did not the android-sdk folder.
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Click to collapse
Ok, good to know!
Thanks everyone for being patient!

So found this reference to shell that is different from what I have seen so far...
"1 After switching to a root shell (# prompt), type mount and press Enter."
What is 'a root shell'? From little bit of research it seems you type sudo su to get to a root shell? Where are you typing that? On the pc or on the phone? In command.com on pc or ... in what on the phone?

G2; How to initiate/ launch adb

ok,,,noob here.. but not a dummy. I want to load music on my sd card. I have downloaded everything I think I'm supposed to have.. SDK, adb, drivers eclipse java program...I'm running vista 32 and have created C:\program files\Android\android-sdk-windows. I have extracted all files I think all the drivers. I have spent some considerable time (wee hours ..) I can start the sdk .exe and the java eclipse but how do I use it to connect to my usb connected phone? I want to load data onto my sd card. BTW I have temprooted with VISIONary r14.
The cmd prompt window that comes up with the sdk .exe does not respond to typing in it. Commands typed into the computer's cmd prompt are not recognized. Or maybe I'm typing the wrong thing. I can't navigate to the android folder, to find my usb'd phone. I have read a lot of posts here trying to figure this out..I'm really at wits end anybody please help!!! I thought there'd be a desktop lauch icon..haha.

There's a guide for using ADB in the dev forum: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=865685
If you are just trying to put music on your SD card though, I don't think you need to do all of this. Just mount the SD card once your phone is connected to your computer (there will be an option that appears in your notification drawer to do this). Your SD card will then show up as a drive on your computer...

I saw that guide..Step 4 doent apply on vista.."My Computer" and the path that is described is not on Vista, or anything similar. I can't "update your Path variable." It did not say HOW TO LAUNCH! What is it application that I need to work from for adb? I have read every post I could find here..and that one maybe four or 5 times. I want to use adb I can see and browse my SD card as drive F..thanks..I still want to run adb.. I cant type into the sdk cmd pane.

captmack007 said:
I saw that guide..Step 4 doent apply on vista.."My Computer" and the path that is described is not on Vista, or anything similar. I can't "update your Path variable." It did not say HOW TO LAUNCH! What is it application that I need to work from for adb? I have read every post I could find here..and that one maybe four or 5 times. I want to use adb I can see and browse my SD card as drive F..thanks..I still want to run adb.. I cant type into the sdk cmd pane.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whoa whoa whoa! If all you want to do is load music on your phone and your using Windows, either just install Doubletwist on it. It's kind of like iTunes for everything. Or just make a music folder and load your music onto that. No adb needed.
Now, about adb; there is no program to run. You don't really need to set your path either, it just makes things easier. Just cd to the sdk tools folder.
Sent from my HTC Vision

It's not all i want to do...i should not have mentioned it.
cd to the ??
If I wish to make an adb command, what and where do I go/do to do that....on a vista puter....thnkx
I can see tghe adb android interface is there ...I figured out to right click on "computer" "manage", which opens Computer Manager. There in the left column is "Device Manager" clicked on that and I see the Android Phone listed, with subcatagory android adb interface. and down at the bottom under "Portable Devices" HTC is shown. All drivers are showing up and say they are functioning properly.
appreciate the help..

captmack007 said:
It's not all i want to do...i should not have mentioned it.
cd to the ??
appreciate the help..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh I see. You first mentioned simply putting music on your phone and the next thing you've got a full development emvironment! Lol!
Cd to the tools folder of the android sdk. (Bear with me as I haven't done this on windows in a good long while). For example, open command prompt, then type "cd C:\androidsdk\tools", where the androidsdk part is whatever the sdk is called.
Sent from my HTC Vision

Once you have the android sdk on your computer- change the folder name to something simple so typing is easier. You'll also want to edit the enviornment variables (google is your friend, but I'll post a link tomorrow to help). The latest sdk is missing a dll file - I'm sure one of us can upload it, I just don't remember which one it is right now.
Now that you've got that done open command prompt an type:
cd c:\where\you\put\it (the sdk)
Then type:
adb devices
Or
adb start-server
If you get an error it means you did something wrong.

"cd C:\androidsdk\tools
I'll ad that to the list of command that do nuttin...lol
I downloaded all the sh*t I was told in these threads to dowload...yeah..everything to create an app. lol
I still am waiting to read or be informed of the precise command line that will let me into adb... tfn

thks KCRic... I will give that a shot.. nice tip on renaming the folder..I did not type cd C: first.. (the tuts I've been rackin my brain on did not say that..
I had read that it was missing and found it downloaded it and put it in tools..
the edit the environment variables is what I can't find where to do that.. thanks.
I added the missingAdbWinApi.dll and AdbWinUsbApi.dll and Adb.exe (of course) into the tools folder...

I renamed the folder in Programs\Android..."android-sdk-windows" simply "sdk"
I typed in:
cd c:\program files\Android\sdk\tools
I got in..opened a port..gave me my phones serial #
so this is where adb commands are made? (stupid question perhaps)
I thought the other cmd screen that opens with the sdk.exe was it. And I cant type anything there anyway.

If you have got "adb devices" to show you your phone's serial number, then adb is working find, and you can start using the other adb commands.
Sent from my HTC Desire Z

captmack007 said:
I renamed the folder in Programs\Android..."android-sdk-windows" simply "sdk"
I typed in:
cd c:\program files\Android\sdk\tools
I got in..opened a port..gave me my phones serial #
so this is where adb commands are made? (stupid question perhaps)
I thought the other cmd screen that opens with the sdk.exe was it. And I cant type anything there anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just type "adb", no quotes, and that will give you an output of all the adb commands.

captmack007 said:
I renamed the folder in Programs\Android..."android-sdk-windows" simply "sdk"
I typed in:
cd c:\program files\Android\sdk\tools
I got in..opened a port..gave me my phones serial #
so this is where adb commands are made? (stupid question perhaps)
I thought the other cmd screen that opens with the sdk.exe was it. And I cant type anything there anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah you're up and running now. If you typed adb devices or adb usb and got it to list your phones serial # then it's connected and running.
As far as adb commands, you can type adb help to get a list of some and they're pretty easy. Some of them are:
adb push <path\to\file> <where\to\push> - copies files to your phone
adb pull <path\to\file> <where\to\put\it> - copies files from the phone to your computer
adb remount - remounts your device
adb reboot - self explanatory
adb install <path\to\file> - self explanatory
adb start-server - starts adb service
adb kill-server - kills adb process (I always type this in when I'm done, sometimes it doesn't terminate and causes issues)
adb shell <linux type command> - runs command in the device shell
adb shell [enter] - operates in the devices shell until you type {exit}
Once you enter the shell you can type {su} to enter superuser. All commands in the shell are in linux format so if you're unfamiliar with that then do some reading.
HERE is a link that should help with adb also.

KCRic said:
As far as adb commands, you can type adb help to get a list of some and they're pretty easy. Some of them are:
adb push <path\to\file> <where\to\push> - copies files to your phone
adb pull <path\to\file> <where\to\put\it> - copies files from the phone to your computer
adb remount - remounts your device
adb reboot - self explanatory
adb install <path\to\file> - self explanatory
adb start-server - starts adb service
adb kill-server - kills adb process (I always type this in when I'm done, sometimes it doesn't terminate and causes issues)
adb shell <linux type command> - runs command in the device shell
adb shell [enter] - operates in the devices shell until you type {exit}
Once you enter the shell you can type {su} to enter superuser. All commands in the shell are in linux format so if you're unfamiliar with that then do some reading.
HERE is a link that should help with adb also.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apologies if you've seen it already, but most of that is covered in the adb guide on the dev forums, with that link also - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=865685

Thanks for the great info... Now I'm standing at the gate (maybe the precipice..lol)
As far as completing the pathway...
I found (through excrutiating trial and error) the Vista path for step 4 on that tut.
So under "Environment Variables" there are two editable windows, and the bottom with the "Path" that the tut says to edit says to ad the path to the tools folder and the platform folders...
The question is, when I double click to edit the Path line,(C:\Program Files\JavaFX-sdk1.3....) it changes to a different path (~1C:\Program Files\Quicktime\QTSystem\
So am I to delete that line and ad a new path or ad to the Quicktime line..
ty

The existing path was probably just too long to show up on the screen (so you saw the beginning of the line initially and the end of the line when you tried to edit it). Just add a semi-colon and then the path you want to add. You don't want to delete what you already have there since it might mess with other software installed on you computer.
So for example:
...C:\Program Files\Quicktime\QTSystem\;C:\android-sdk-windows\tools

Quicktime and android are both separatefolders under program files... so....no.. that's not it. I don't even know why java showsthere... my sdk is in C:/Program Files/Android/sdk/tools...
p.s. how you do backslash on this keyboard....lol
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

The path is simply a listing of directories separated by semi-colons. When executing a command, Windows will check the local directory you are in first for the program, and then parse through the directories listed in your path. This is why this step is even needed (it allows you to run adb.exe from any directory instead of always having to change to the tools directory). This is also why I said it's not a good idea to simply delete what is already there. You just want to add the tools directory where adb.exe is located to the existing listing.
So in your case, the end of the path variable will look like this:
...C:\Program Files\Quicktime\QTSystem\;C:\Program Files\Android\sdk\tools
Alternatively, you could stick it in the beginning of the path (so double-click to edit the variable, hit Home to go to the beginning, and add the directory there with a semi-colon). It should look like this in your case:
C:\Program Files\Android\sdk\tools;C:\Program Files\JavaFX-sdk1.3...
And there is no backslash on the G2 hardware keyboard (as you noticed), but you can access it by hitting the Alt key and then space to pull up a dialog box of additional symbols.

Word of advice to anyone reading this:
When adding the adb to your path make sure and don't put a space after the the semicolan. When I set mine up I spent 4 hours trying to figure out why it wasn't working, and it was the stupid space lol.
I haven't looked at the wiki since I did it back in October so maybe they've updated it to be clearer but just want to throw it out there.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App

commands in terminal windows

Hi all
I did not expect to have a true man in this embeded system but, is there somewhere ( or thru a free market app..) a list of commands that can be passed in a terminal window...
i've seen that some posts are talking about setInstallLocation...for example
if I try that in a terminal window, seems to be ignored...
I thought that busybox was supposed to give kind of a man...but not been able to install it...
Could someone enlight me a bit
thks in advance
( sorry for approximative english...lol)

I think that is a adb command and not a linux.
For a list of linuxc commands look here: http://ss64.com/bash/
Most of then should work in a terminal emulator.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

splendid...thks

well now, I know exactly what I am after...it is the list of ADB commands...
I'll go search for !!!

[Q] ADB Tutorial

Could someone point me to an in-depth adb tutorial? I have adb up and running and I can enter shell. I have also had a few successful file transfers (e.g. adb push,adb pull) But I have a hard time determining the correct path and where to put spaces and slashes and what file types are transferable and what aren't.

You can just type in "adb" (./adb on mac) and hit enter, it'll give you several useful and commonly used ADB commands.

[Q] help with adb pull [Solved]

so my wife dorpped her s3 and broke the screen, the phone is rooted and i have adb debugging turned on i can use adb to pull/puch etc. but i dont know how, could some on tell me what adb commands i need to issue to the device to pull her internal sd data to my computer and push it back to her new s3, i also need to know how to wipe her phone with adb and reset to stock so i cna return it to the insurancce company, if anyone could tell me how to basically pull everything from her phone, internal sd data, and her text messages i know to pull the texts and view them i will need to use sqlite 3 to view the .db of her text messages but i cant figure out the commands to do so and i cant figure out how to format the commands so that it will pull the info to my desktop for viewing through sqlite 3 on the computer, also if i need to install sqlite 3 on the device with adb i need to know the commands for that as well, all help is welcomed, i have to get this thing back to stock in the next week or so, you are even more than welcome to call me an idot noob because i really am, i am very technically inclined and can follow complex instructions provided they are complete, please help ! lastly is there an adb command that would transfer what should be displayed on the screen if it worked within a emulator window if so please include that information as well.
This has been solved thanks to the info that was given, i was able to wrap my head around the entireity of adb, and my actual problem was not formatting of commands, my wife had a lock screen so i had to get that unlocked before adb would allow pulls if you need to do this with you phone i have posted a tutorial in the android general development and hacking [developers only] forums

MotoDefier said:
so my wife dorpped her s3 and broke the screen, the phone is rooted and i have adb debugging turned on i can use adb to pull/puch etc. but i dont know how, could some on tell me what adb commands i need to issue to the device to pull her internal sd data to my computer and push it back to her new s3, i also need to know how to wipe her phone with adb and reset to stock so i cna return it to the insurancce company, if anyone could tell me how to basically pull everything from her phone, internal sd data, and her text messages i know to pull the texts and view them i will need to use sqlite 3 to view the .db of her text messages but i cant figure out the commands to do so and i cant figure out how to format the commands so that it will pull the info to my desktop for viewing through sqlite 3 on the computer, also if i need to install sqlite 3 on the device with adb i need to know the commands for that as well, all help is welcomed, i have to get this thing back to stock in the next week or so, you are even more than welcome to call me an idot noob because i really am, i am very technically inclined and can follow complex instructions provided they are complete, please help ! lastly is there an adb command that would transfer what should be displayed on the screen if it worked within a emulator window if so please include that information as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not going to call you an idiot noob. It seems to me that you know a little more than you express. A few Google searches could answer all of your questions. You are asking for someone to write you a novel, it's not going to happen.

Aerowinder said:
I'm not going to call you an idiot noob. It seems to me that you know a little more than you express. A few Google searches could answer all of your questions. You are asking for someone to write you a novel, it's not going to happen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
google has actually been un helpful in this dilema, however I think the explaination of adb commands on the sdk's page looks like it has enough information for me to write, my own novel (lol) so I will start there tonight, and hope that I understand the procedures described as well as I think I do, thanks for the reply anyway

Now that I have a little more information I guess what I really was trying to ask is for someone to give me a little better understanding of how issuing commands work I know how to issue ADB commands for instance with ADB HELP OR HELP ALL the command looks like this in the example. Adb pull [<local>] [<remote>] i dont understand what information adb is looking for where it says local and remote, is adb looking for me to type the [<local>] [<remote>] exactly this way or is it leading me to give a path for local and a path for remote, if so how do i go about figuring out said paths?
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using xda app-developers app

Local would be path on pc, remote would be path on phone.

sorry, for asking probably dumb questions
Aerowinder said:
Local would be path on pc, remote would be path on phone.
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Click to collapse
I know that it sounds stupid that i know how to open adb, i know how to issue commands (mostly) and i know that you said you think i know more than i am taking credit for, but heres the thing i do know ALOT about computers and can do almost anything with them however Command line utilities is not my strong suit, so local is the path on the pc remote is the path on the phone i am assuming that this would be the proper way to pull the sd data
adb pull -shared [< / sd>] [< C:\user agentlogon\Desktop>] if i wanted to store the file on my desktop would that be correct or am i just completly command line retarted? , i know that this isnt the real path but if it were is this correct formatting for the command line?

Like this: adb pull -shared "/sd" "C:\user agentlogon\Desktop"

Adb kill-server
Adb start-server
Adb pull <file> <Local>
Sent from my LT26i using xda app-developers app

Aerowinder said:
Like this: adb pull -shared "/sd" "C:\user agentlogon\Desktop"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, so sorry, at this point i feel like a total idiot and im sure if your not right there with me your getting close, but i think this last question will help me understand command line utils better in the future, so when you see [<>] am i correct that the utility is showing me its okay to perform said command on [ ] directories <> files ? Also i am a very literal learner so do i use the quotes on the command or are you just quoting me?

[<>] = variable. Replace the entire sequence. So, [<local>] = "C:\directory\file.ext" This is not standardized across commandline apps. The [<>] is only meant to show the user that they need to replace this with his/her own value.
In commandline utilities, spaces separate commands, this is why you need quotations around directories that have spaces. If you don't, the C:\... directory will be interpreted as two seperate commands, resulting in a syntax error. I always use quotations around directories out of habit. / is often used as a switch. To be safe, always quote directories. This is standardized across all commandline apps.

TrinityHaxxor said:
Adb kill-server
Adb start-server
Adb pull <file> <Local>
Sent from my LT26i using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah i got the kill start sever on lock, and i am wanting to pull thecentire contents of the sd, not a single file, but thanks for your input it is all welcomed!

Aerowinder said:
[<>] = variable. Replace the entire sequence. So, [<local>] = "C:\directory\file.ext" hhis is not standardized across commandline apps. The [<>] is only meant to show the user that they need to replace this with his/her own val
In commandline utilities, spaces separate commands, this is why you need quotations around directories that have spaces. If you don't, the C:\... directory will be interpreted as two seperate commands, resulting in a syntax error. I always use quotations around directories out of habit. / is often used as a switch. To be safe, always quote directories. This is standardized across all commandline apps.
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Click to collapse
now i have a new problem it is saying /sd does not exist do you possibly have a screenshot of the path for the sd in a file manger you could post for me if not i will try to look at it with my wifes new phone and hope that the stock file system is the same as the modded system she has on the broken phone. also if this doesnt work how would i just do a full wipe of the phone so it looks like i just wiped it for privacy.

Try:
/storage/sdcard
/storage/sdcard0
/mnt/sdcard
/mnt/sdcard0
One of those should work.

Aerowinder said:
Try:
/storage/sdcard
/storage/sdcard0
/mnt/sdcard
/mnt/sdcard0
One of those should work.
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Click to collapse
IIts not giving me any errors, but its not giving me the files either, i tried to adb root to see if that would change and it says adbd cannot run as root in production builds, i tried to adb remount it says opperation not permitted, i tried adb shell then su and adb freezes and wont let me exit shell, it either freezes or just echo's what i type, so if i type exit it returns exit showing the word exit twice but leaves me no choice other than to close cmd and re open and restart adb, not sure what im doing wrong, the device show with adb devices in adb and shell but then says device not found when i try to su in shell lol, fml!