[SOLVED] Date not appending to filename

trickydba · 11-20-2016, 10:51 AM

I'm trying to append he current date to a file that is generated everyday. I tried using the DATE command with no success.The filename format is:
ddd_ddddddddddd_monthdayyear.DAT

When I use DATE, it creates 2 files, but the one that does what I want it to do, the file size is 0. Like for example, if the filename is ess_inventoryhub_DAT with a filesize of 43kb, when I use the DATE command it will create 2 files:

ess_inventoryhub_.DAT filesize 43kb
ess_inventoryhub_111816.DAT filesize 0

Any help is highly appreciated!!

grail · 11-20-2016, 10:58 AM

You would need to show the commands you are using, otherwise how are we to help?

Please use [code][/code] tags around code and data

BW-userx · 11-20-2016, 01:01 PM

what does your code look like?

genogebot · 11-20-2016, 02:51 PM

Assuming you are using a shell script, you could do something like:

Code:

f="ess_inventoryhub_$(date +"%m%d%y").DAT"

chrism01 · 11-20-2016, 09:49 PM

As above, show us your code.
Also, I'd recommend the format YYYYMMDD as this sorts naturally/correctly/easily.
It also means you can do comparisons easily ie without having to re-format to eg epoch seconds

trickydba · 11-21-2016, 06:53 AM

I appreciate all of the help, I have solved it. Similar to the code above but I had to add some extra lines of code. Appreciate you all!!!!

grail · 11-21-2016, 07:31 AM

You should show your solution for future people who find your code, if nothing else than to show an alternative.

Please remember to mark as SOLVED.

BW-userx · 11-21-2016, 07:59 AM

Code:

$(date -R)

gives a nice output ,, just in case you want to tweek your code

don't forget to mark solved.

trickydba · 11-21-2016, 09:40 AM

The code I used for the solution:

file_name=TESTFILE <------ notice no extension, it was added in the next line
current_time=$(date "+%Y_%m_%d.DAT") <------ added the extension
new_fileName=$file_name$current_time
cp $file_name $new_fileName
rm $file_name <------ since two files was created, had to delete the initial file

grail · 11-21-2016, 11:03 AM

Quote:

rm $file_name <------ since two files was created, had to delete the initial file

I have to say, I am unable to reproduce your results, however, you do realise that cp copies your file to its new name and does not replace it? You would need to use mv if you did not want the original file
to still exist.

On a side note, some prefer to use cp and then remove the original after they have confirmed the copy has worked.

szboardstretcher · 11-21-2016, 11:16 AM

And I wouldn't do that with the date variable either. Its confusing.

Code:

file_name=TESTFILE
current_time=$(date "+%Y_%m_%d")
new_fileName=$file_name$current_time.DAT
mv $file_name $new_fileName

Really all you should need.