echo > fname.txt
adds a single new line

print > filename.txt
does the same thing without a newline, so gives you a really empty file.

that's way cool, who would of thought touch!, I truly am "touched" lol thanks

useful, cheers.

Ty, it was just what i was looking for

Thanks! You just saved me a LOT of time. Blessing upon thee!

-Chris

yes, it works :) *bonus text, because my comment is too short*

if you want to create an empty file, use touch:

$ touch filename.txt

that command will put a newline in the file, so it's not quite empty (at least in ubuntu linux). you can add the -n option to prevent the newline, like so:
echo -n > whatever_file_name.txt

a shorthand way to do the same thing (might depend on your shell though) is:
> whatever_file_name.txt

i am using ubuntu and my operator command does not like to work to create any files. i can use vi, save and exit to create a blank file.

the reasoning behind me wanting a blank file in the first place is because i am creating scripts and the redirction will only work if the file is created and the owner:group are both the current user/ non-root.

please help sudo does not work either