read file data into a variable

[Kevin Medlin]

Hi everyone,

I have a script that needs to read the date from a file and put it into a variable. The file only has one row and one column of data. For example,

> more date_file.dat
20030331

I'm trying to read date_file.dat and put it into var1. I only need to do this once so I don't need a loop or anything.

Thanks for the help.

[Pete Randall]

export var1=`cat date_file.dat`


Pete

[Jose Mosquera]

Hi,

If date_file.dat just have the date info:
VAR1=`cat date_file.dat`

Rgds.

[John Poff]

Hi,

You can also do it this way:

VAR1=$(

JP

[curt larson_1]

var=$(

[Sridhar Bhaskarla · Accepted solution]

Hi

var1=$(cat data_file.dat)

However, if data_file.dat has multiple lines, then your commands have to deal with them.

-Sri

[Paul Sperry]

#!/usr/bin/ksh
for var1 in `date_file.dat`
do
whatever comman you want to do with var1
done

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Kevin:

Do this:

VAR=`< data_file.dat`

...or:

VAR=$(< data_file.dat)

Regards!

...JRF...

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Eevin:

I think you will find the input redirection is faster than spawning 'cat' to read the file and capture the first line into your variable.

In fact, this is documented in the 'sh-posix' man pages:

/begin_quote/

The command substitution $(cat file) can be replaced by the equivalent but faster $(
/end_quote/

...while I am an animal lover, including mmembers of the feline species, I avoid cat's whenever possible! :-;

Regards!

...JRF...