command line run with default app

[linuxux]

I'm looking for a single command that would tell the environment to launch a file in it's configured way.
it could be "readme.txt" or "movie.avi"
I think in windows if you type "start readme.txt" it will open with notepad, "start movie.avi" might start in VLC, if the associations are configured.

I found open in the bash manual: Open a file in its default application

$ open test.txt
Couldnt get a file descriptor referring to the console
$ bash open test.txt
/bin/open: /bin/open: cannot execute binary file

I'm guessing this uses a bash-known apps or is something completely different.

I'd like the script to not have to figure out anything, just use the known app.

update:
OK well a few more minutes with google found close to what I need...

http://linuxcommando.blogspot.com/2009/ ... g-its.html
$ gnome-open cisco.doc
For KDE users, use kde-open instead.
$ xdg-open cisco.doc

What is the simplest thing that can be done to determine if it is KDE or Gnome?

[linuxux]

xdg-open works fine on both KDE and Gnome boxes.

Thanks google

[ubuntu@@xx]

You can use the command " Which " ,{for running programs only not ordinary files} for example if you want to call the Firefox browser , you can write in your command line:
> which firefox
then it will reply with something like :
> usr/bin/firefox

then you just repeat writing that path and the program will be executed