"find" problem: multiple use of result in -exec clause

[Raynald Boucher]

Hello all,
I tried several variations but find myself stumped... Maybe it's impossible but I'd like to know why.

I'm trying to create an ftp command file by using the following find statement:

find . -type f -newer start_file_name -exec echo put {} `basename {}` >> ftp_commands \;

I want to use "basename" because the directory structure doesn't exist on the target server.
A test of the above produces the following:

put ./work/pts8531/tsk/test_all_sql.sh ./work/pts8531/tsk/test_all_sql.sh
put ./work/pts8531/ctk/test_all_sql.sh ./work/pts8531/ctk/test_all_sql.sh
put ./test ./test
put ./nbcase/testcomp.sql ./nbcase/testcomp.sql
put ./ora600/test_query.sql ./ora600/test_query.sql
put ./ora600/test_query.log ./ora600/test_query.log
put ./sysmon/test ./sysmon/test

Any ideas?

RayB

[Sundar_7 · Accepted solution]

You can try this if you would like

find . -type f -newer start_file_name -exec printf "put %s " {} \; -exec basename {} \;

[A. Clay Stephenson]

I would take a dive and conquer approach:

#!/usr/bin/sh
typeset OUT=ftp_commands
rm -f ${OUT}
typeset F=""
find . -type f -newer start_file_name -print | while read F
do
echo "put ${F} $(basename ${F})" >> ${OUT}
done

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Ray:

Use 'xargs'.

# find . -type f -newer start_file_name | xargs -i echo put {} `basename {}` >> ftp_commands

Regards!

...JRF...

[Court Campbell]

Just for grins

find . -type f -newer start_file_name -exec echo put {} \\c \; -exec basename {} \; > ftp_commands

[Raynald Boucher]

Ayoye!

3 perfect answers.
Sorry James, close but no cigar.
Looks like the result can only be used once by "-exec" clause or used outside the execution of the find command.

Shows I have a lot to learn...

Thanks all

[Raynald Boucher]

Cheersa all,
thanks again

[Dennis Handly]

The problem with `basename ... ` is that it is evaluated before the find command is executed.

You might be able to use $(...) and then quote the $ then use the sh and eval but Clay's solution would be easier to understand.

[Eric Raeburn]

This also works:

for f in $(find...) ; do
echo $f $(basename $f) >> file
done

[Eric Raeburn]

sorry...i left out the "put" from the echo command.