Correct syntax for adding text to an existing file

kaplan71 · 01-05-2008, 05:47 PM

Hi there --

I have a script that creates a .forward file in a newly created user's home directory. The syntax that I am using is the following:

Code:

# Create the .forward file in the user's home directory.
       /bin/touch "/home/$username/.forward"

I want to have the script insert the user's e-mail address into the .forward file that was just created. The command syntax that I thought of using is the following:

Code:

# Insert the user's e-mail address into the .forward file.
       /bin/cat $username.cox.net > "/home/$username/.forward"

Will this syntax work, or is there another that it should be done? Thanks.

Nylex · 01-05-2008, 05:53 PM

You want to use >> to append, i.e. "cat $username.cox.net >> /home/$username/.forward".

syg00 · 01-05-2008, 05:57 PM

New file, shouldn't matter - either will do just as well.

colucix · 01-05-2008, 05:58 PM

I'd use echo instead of cat

Code:

echo $username.cox.net >> "/home/$username/.forward"

since cat would look for a file called $username.cox.net.

kaplan71 · 01-05-2008, 06:36 PM

Thank-you all for the help. I opted for the echo command syntax, and that proved to work.