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When I define new alias in .bash_aliases file or new function in .bashrc file is there some refresh command to be able immediately use the new aliases or functions without closing terminal (in my case xfce4-terminal with a few tabs open, many files open and in the middle of the work)?

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Note that there is no command that will made that new command known in all your open terminals/tabs. You'll have to do the . .bashrc or source .bashrc in every shell you have open. –  Paul Tomblin Oct 19 '11 at 12:05

2 Answers 2

up vote 14 down vote accepted

Sourcing the changed file will provide access to the newly written alias or function in the current terminal, for example:

source ~/.bashrc

An alternative syntax:

. ~/.bashrc

Note that if you have many instances of bash running in your terminal (you mentionned multiple tabs), you will have to run this in every instance.

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source is csh-derived. The bourne shell way is . .bashrc. –  Paul Tomblin Oct 19 '11 at 12:04
That's interesting that this doesn't work when I define alias prg='prg.py' . I have to close terminal. –  xralf Oct 20 '11 at 11:49

. ~/.bashrc will run .bashrc By default .bashrc will also call and runs .bash_aliases with:

if [ -f ~/.bash_aliases ]; then
    . ~/.bash_aliases


. ~/.bash_aliases alone will just run .bash_aliases

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