.TH shell_default 3erl "stdlib 1.18.1" "Ericsson AB" "Erlang Module Definition"
.SH NAME
shell_default \- Customizing the Erlang Environment
.SH DESCRIPTION
.LP
The functions in \fIshell_default\fR\& are called when no module name is given in a shell command\&.
.LP
Consider the following shell dialogue:
.LP
.nf

1 > lists:reverse("abc")\&.
"cba"
2 > c(foo)\&.
{ok, foo}    
.fi
.LP
In command one, the module \fIlists\fR\& is called\&. In command two, no module name is specified\&. The shell searches the modules \fIuser_default\fR\& followed by \fIshell_default\fR\& for the function \fIfoo/1\fR\&\&.
.LP
\fIshell_default\fR\& is intended for "system wide" customizations to the shell\&. \fIuser_default\fR\& is intended for "local" or individual user customizations\&.
.SH "HINT"

.LP
To add your own commands to the shell, create a module called \fIuser_default\fR\& and add the commands you want\&. Then add the following line as the \fIfirst\fR\& line in your \fI\&.erlang\fR\& file in your home directory\&.
.LP
.nf

code:load_abs("$PATH/user_default").    
.fi
.LP
\fI$PATH\fR\& is the directory where your \fIuser_default\fR\& module can be found\&.