setting PATH environment variable

[omidkamangar]

Hi,
I want to add a new directory to the PATH environment variable on my FC6.
I usually do it by editing the .bash_profile file in the /home/omid (my user) directory and adding this:

PATH=$PATH:/new_folder_path
export PATH

where new_folder_path is the path of the folder to add.
Is there anyway to add this folder to the PATH environment variable permanently?

[mechdave]

To set the environment variable for you only, (user omid), place your code

PATH=$PATH:/new_folder_path
export PATH

into your .bash_profile file in your home directory. To make it system wide place it in /etc/profile
Try this page, it seems to explain it fairly well

I tend to avoid editing /etc/profile as much as I can as it is fairly easy, (for me), to screw up the operating system, whereas in your .bash_profile the worst you can do is screw up your account!

[omidkamangar]

Thanks mechdave I wont modify /etc/profile, I just wanted to learn that way too.