topic Re: How to rename file in Operating System - HP-UX

How to rename file

rustam_2 — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 04:22:50 GMT

Hi all,
I need to rename file to 'file_name_sysdate'. Because everyday one log file generates in the same directory and rewrites previous one. I need to have all of log files during 2-3 weeks. Log files cant be generated with unique name(pity but it's software feature). Always the same
File generates once a day in midnight, and i want to rename this file in the morning to . Is it possible with script?

Regards,
Rustam

Re: How to rename file

Patrick Wallek — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 04:48:43 GMT

Something like this in a script should do:

mv file_name.log file_name_$(date +%m%d%Y).log

This would yield a file with a name like file_name_02172011.log

Re: How to rename file

rustam_2 — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 05:15:41 GMT

Hi Patrick,

I couldnt run your syntax in bash environment. I run and got error:

$ mv file_name.log file_name_$(date+%m%d%Y).log
-bash: date+%m%d%Y: command not found

how can i explain to bash date+%m%d%Y?

Re: How to rename file

Shrikant Lavhate — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 06:56:01 GMT

Did you forgot the space in between date and + ? :-)

date +%m%d%Y

Re: How to rename file

sangilak — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 06:59:29 GMT

Hi,

You missed a space:

# date+%m%d%Y
-bash: date+%m%d%Y: command not found

# date +%m%d%Y
02182011

So add the missing space and it will work!

sangilak

Re: How to rename file

Steven Schweda — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:00:42 GMT

> [...] file_name_$(date +%m%d%Y).log
>
> This would yield a file with a name like
> file_name_02172011.log

And if you use something like "_%Y-%m-%d"
instead, then you might get names which will
be easier to read and which will sort in the
normal order.

Just a thought.

Re: How to rename file

rustam_2 — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 06:12:42 GMT

Thanks for all of you. I hope i can set it in crontab file and run everyday automatically.

Regards,
Rustam

Re: How to rename file

Peter Nikitka — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 07:57:06 GMT

Hi Rustam,

be aware, that the percent sign "%" has a special meaning in crontab entries, so it needs an esacpe character.
It may be
date +\%Y ...
or
date +%%Y ...
depending on the OS version you use - look at the man page.

mfG Peter

Re: How to rename file

rustam_2 — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:31:01 GMT

Hi Peter,
so if i want to use in crontab i must change my script to something like this?:

mv my_file.log my_file_$(date +%%m%d%Y).log

My OS version is 11.3

regards,
rustam

Re: How to rename file

Dennis Handly — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:51:19 GMT

>if I want to use in crontab I must change my script to something like this?

You must quote each %:
mv my_file.log my_file_$(date +\%m\%d\%Y).log

Re: How to rename file

rustam_2 — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:06:00 GMT

Dennis,
this syntax worked for me via cron:
mv /u02/scripts/my_file.log /u02/scripts/my_file_$(date +%m%d%Y).log

regards and thanks,
rustam

Re: How to rename file

Dennis Handly — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 20:26:12 GMT

>this syntax worked for me via cron:
mv /u02/scripts/my_file.log /u02/scripts/my_file_$(date +%m%d%Y).log

Yes your syntax will work in a script invoked FROM cron. But if you have it in the crontab file itself, you need to quote each "%".