title: How to set path variables on osx el capitan?
body: <p>I've not had success setting up an environment variable on El Capitan. Nothing to do with dock or bash shell. Trying to run a java gui which requires an environment path variable to a JDBC driver to connect to an oracle db:
  <a href="http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11882_01/install.112/e38228/inst_task.htm#BABBBHJH" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11882_01/install.112/e38228/inst_task.htm#BABBBHJH</a></p>
  
  <p>I have tried methods:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>in launchd.conf:<code>
  setenv JDBC /Users/mac_admin/Downloads/Oracle/instantclient_12_1
  </code>
  <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/135688/setting-environment-variables-in-os-x/588442#588442">osx - Setting environment variables in OS X? - Stack Overflow</a></p></li>
  <li><p>in .profile:<code>
  export JDBC /Users/mac_admin/Downloads/Oracle/instantclient_12_1
  </code>
  <a href="https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/106778/how-do-i-set-environment-variables-on-os-x/106823#106823">terminal - How do I set environment variables on OS X? - Ask Different</a></p></li>
  <li><p>in .bash_profile:<code>
  export JDBC=$(/Users/mac_admin/Downloads/Oracle/instantclient_12_1)
  </code>
  <a href="http://osxdaily.com/2015/07/28/set-enviornment-variables-mac-os-x/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Where to Set Environment Variables in Mac OS X</a></p></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>In each case, the <code>export</code> command at Terminal does not show the new variable. </p>
  
  <p>What is correct method for El Capitan?</p>
  
  <p>Is "JDBC" an acceptable name for the variable? Or am I supposed to label it <code>PATH</code>? I notice the <code>export</code> command already lists a <code>PATH</code> item, and I am afraid to overwrite it:</p>
  
  <pre><code>declare -x PATH="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/Library/Frameworks/Mono.framework/Versions/Current/Commands"
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Is <code>/Users/mac_admin/Downloads/Oracle/instantclient_12_1</code> an acceptable location for the files?</p>
  
  <p>thx</p>