topic Re: test wheather at least one file exists in Operating System - Linux

test wheather at least one file exists

Andrej Vavro — Fri, 02 May 2003 07:37:43 GMT

Hi,

When there is more then one file this failed on linux:

if [ -f /folder/fileprefix*.filesuffix ]

there is no problem with the syntax in HP-UX (ksh). Can you help me with the syntax?

Thanks,
Andrej

Re: test wheather at least one file exists

Kjartan Maraas — Fri, 02 May 2003 08:24:53 GMT

My shell programming knowledge is very limited, but maybe this link will give you some hints:

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Programming/Programming_Platforms/Unix_Programming/Q_20494418.html

Re: test wheather at least one file exists

Francisco J. Soler — Fri, 02 May 2003 08:40:07 GMT

Hi, Andrej you can try this, is a little mor complex but works,

if (ls /folder/fileprefix*.filesuffix > /dev/null 2>&1) ; then echo HI ; fi

Frank.

Re: test wheather at least one file exists

Steven E. Protter — Fri, 02 May 2003 13:51:41 GMT

if [ -f /fs/filename ]
then
echo "do something"
else
echo "didn't find the file"
fi

SEP

Re: test wheather at least one file exists

Stuart Browne — Sat, 03 May 2003 06:07:23 GMT

Unfortunately, what you've described here is not the shell.

You'll find on most Unix systems that the [ is a symboilc link to the program 'test' (but not all).

'ksh' does do some fun things with scripts. Unforunately 'ksh' (pdksh) on Linux does not behave in the exact same manner has 'ksh' on HP-UX (or SCO OSR which is what I was toying with).

To achive what you are wanting to do, you'll have to resort to doing something like:

if [ "$(echo *.blah)" != "*.blah" ]

A strange work around, and admittadly not the best check (will match directories as well as symoblic links).

You could always write your own shell function which looped through + counted arguments..

Re: test wheather at least one file exists

John Meissner — Mon, 05 May 2003 11:20:19 GMT

to test for a file do:
if [ -f /home/name/file ]

to test for a directory do:
if [ -d /home/directory ]

to test for file permissions do:
if [ -r file ]
if [ -w file ]
if [ -x file ]

to test if user owns a file do:
if [ -O file ] #capital letter o

to test if a file exists and is non-empty do:
if [ -s file ]

to test if sticky bit is set do:
if [ -k file ]

to test if it is a symbolic link do:
if [ -L file ]

to test if user is in the same group do:
if [ -G file ]

There are several other "if" tests but I think this should cover almost any of your needs.