bash script to read multiple user input

prasunjit · 03-31-2013, 01:32 PM

Hello All,

I am trying to find all the files on patterns that are to be taken as a user input. The number of user input pattern is not fixed. it can vary from 1 to as many as i would like. after i have taken all the user input i have to find the files based on these pattrens and store the file names in an array.since the number of input is not fixed so i thought best way is to use while loop to seperate the pattrens stored in the read variable . here is my code

Code:

declare -a arr
echo " enter the pattern/patterns ->" # entering the patterns. it can be 1 or more then one
read pattern #say the patterns entered are- file123 file124 file125
while IFS='' read -d '' var ; do # if there are more then one pattren then seperating the pattrens by IFS='' in a while loop
arr=$(find "/home/dir1/"  -type f -name '$var*')#finding  all the files on each pattren and storing it in array
done < < ( $pattern )

but somewhere i am making mistake.can anyone please help

grail · 03-31-2013, 02:09 PM

Here are some things to look at:

1. Please explain what you have set IFS to and what the '-d' option is doing in your while / read statement?

2. Review how to create / assign to an array in bash

3. Review what is the difference between single and double quotes, especially when surrounding a variable (eg. '$var*')

4. Review how to read from a string

Answering the above may help you to understand where you have made several mistakes in the above.