http://www.fmi.uni-passau.de/archive/doc/unix/unixhelp/Unixhelp/environment_env3ab.html (Einblicke ins Internet, 10/1995)To make lasting changes to the value of an environment variable:
1. Use your editor to open the .profile file and add the line:
VARNAME=value_of_variable;export VARNAME
2. Save the file and leave the editor.
3. Enter the command:
..profile
This adds the new value to your working environment.