Getting a variable from a text-file (bash)

PatrickBecks · 02-13-2008, 03:33 AM

Hello y'all,

I have a text-file which contains a number (ex: 32)
I want to do some calculations with the content of this text-file.

ex: 3200 - "number in the text-file" (so 3200 - 32)

Now, my idea is to MAKE A VARIABLE (var) from the content of the text-file so that i can do this with a bash-script:

#!/bin/sh
pc 3200 - $var > outcome.txt
exit

(pc = the Python Calculator, works great by the way!)

What i can't manage is to make a variable from the content of the text-file .

Any tips? ideas? solutions?

Greetings from the Netherlands

Patrick

Guttorm · 02-13-2008, 04:12 AM

var=$(cat textfilename)

JWPurple · 02-13-2008, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guttorm

var=$(cat textfilename)

or even more efficient and concise:

Code:

var=$(<textfilename)

PatrickBecks · 02-14-2008, 03:14 AM

var=$(<textfilename) doesn't work..

ex: var1=$(cat /home/patrick/scripts/totaldownload.txt) WORKS!

ex: var1=$(</home/patrick/scripts/totaldownload.txt) doesn't work.

JWPurple · 02-14-2008, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatrickBecks

var=$(<textfilename) doesn't work..

ex: var1=$(cat /home/patrick/scripts/totaldownload.txt) WORKS!

ex: var1=$(</home/patrick/scripts/totaldownload.txt) doesn't work.

Code:

wake@dog:~> echo hello >tmp.txt
wake@dog:~> temp=$(<tmp.txt)
wake@dog:~> echo $temp
hello
wake@dog:~>

Works for me!