Command to test if file exists

[Mike Rightmire]

I know this is a really dumb question, but I have completely forgotten the if - then test to determine if a file exists. I know it is simple, but I can't remember it or find it anywhere!

HELP!
Thanks,
Mike

[A. Clay Stephenson]

Hi Mike:

Slipped a groove, huh?

if [ -r myfile -a -f myfile ]
then
echo "myfile is readable and is a reguler file"
fi

Simply man test for details.

[Sridhar Bhaskarla]

Mike,

Simple.

if [ -f /wherever/your_file ]
then
echo "your_file is there"
fi

There are other switches like -x, -r etc., for executable, readable etc.,

-Sri

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Mike:

I don't think you'v "slipped a goove".

To me the 'test' command isnt't necessarily the obvious place to find what you seek. That aside, take a look at '-r' for testing if a file is (r)eadable and therefore by infererence that it exists. Contrast this with the need to determine that it is a regular file instead of a special file (like a device file, or a socket) [-f]; or that the file has a size greater than zero bytes [-s]; or an important, useful test like [-t] to determine whether or not the file is associated with a terminal (ever so useful with scipts when you want to differentiate between a 'cron' initiated process and one started from a shell's command line!

Take a look at these, and other options, in the 'test' command.

Maybe this thread will help you remember ;-)

Regards!

...JRF...