[SOLVED] Ubuntu: commands with ' ' are failing

greenpool · 07-31-2011, 03:14 AM

hi,

the following appears to be failing. i hope someone can tell me why..

so i'm trying to create a file with the current date as the prefix in the following way (following instructions from a tutorial):

Code:

touch 'date +%F'.log

its creating the file as:

date +%F.log

instead of 2011-07-31.log

i also tried the following:

Code:

var='expr 1 + 2'
echo $var

now i thought it should display the result as 3 but instead its printing the string:

expr 1 + 2

what am i getting wrong/missing/failing to understand?

thanks!

Wim Sturkenboom · 07-31-2011, 03:33 AM

Use backticks instead of ticks

Code:

fortyfourgalena@desktop-01:~$ touch `date +%F`.log
fortyfourgalena@desktop-01:~$ ls 2011*
2011-07-31.log
fortyfourgalena@desktop-01:~$

chrism01 · 07-31-2011, 07:05 PM

Or try $(); easier to read

Code:

touch $(date +%F).log
2011-08-01.log

corp769 · 07-31-2011, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrism01

Or try $(); easier to read

Code:

touch $(date +%F).log
2011-08-01.log

Normally, that would depend on the user. Me personally, I use both, but mainly I use backticks.

chrism01 · 07-31-2011, 07:27 PM

Yeah, I'm old school myself, but it is easier to read, especially across environments. I actually tested that on the Solaris system in front of me, just to see if it worked there.

corp769 · 07-31-2011, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrism01

Yeah, I'm old school myself, but it is easier to read, especially across environments. I actually tested that on the Solaris system in front of me, just to see if it worked there.

I could have told you that

And honestly, I don't think I will be ever considered "new school....."