LinuxQuestions.org - test for a dir exist

friends,

i am trying to test if a certain dir might exist.
the dir name will always be in the form of NNNNN other name w spaces.
where nnnnnn is a 5 digit jobnumber
example :specifically if a usb drive has been mounted under
/media/31499 my project.
I figure if i get the 31499 from the user - then I can append a *

what i am doing is making a script that will allow users to tar a usb drive (video , final cut pro stuffism ) to an LTo4 data tape.

I would like to show you 2 scripts this 1st one is my TEST FOR DIR script that -- if it worked, would be incorporATED into the larger BACKUP SCRIPT

this is the test for dir-------------(start test for dir
#!/bin/sh
##~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~# vers
##~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~# pps production backUP
##-----------< this is test-for dir4.sh
##-----------<
#######################################################
###----# get JobNum # enter w spaces
echo “Please provide the jobNum -----! 5 digits NO SPACES !”
read jobNum
echo “Thanks…Processing Your ${jobNum} Now”
###----------------># start is there size , is theer anything mounted
##cd /media/$JobNum*
dir="/media/$jobNum*"
##echo ${PWD#${PWD%/*/*}/}
echo "dir test is for $dir"
###if [ $dir -ne 1 ]
##then
## echo "Usage: $0 {dir-name}"
## exit 1
##fi

if [ -d "$dir" ]
then
echo "$dir directory exists!"
else
echo "$dir directory not found!"
fi
--------------test for dir end

what confuses me is I can cd to /media/31499* and find myself in /media/31499 my project

Could it be the spaces in the name?
should i try to write a file and test if that file exists?
BUT i cannot write to the usb drive ...it is HFS+ journaled.
the reason for this test is so the dude who has not plugged in the usb drive gets a reminder.

----------)-)-------( the main back up script
here i am getting a jubNumber
making a listing
testing that there is a tape in the lto
i wish to test that the usb Drive is on and mounted.
sending an email
and , of course backing up the usb drive to lto4 tape

#!/bin/sh
##~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~# vers9k; 2.22.2011 js
##~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~# pps production backUP
##-----------< assumes a chgrp users of /media
##-----------< assumes a 755 dir of /home/ingex/pps_list
#######################################################

###----------------># start is there a tape test
sudo mt -f /dev/st0 status | grep error
if [[ $? -ne error ]]
then
echo " errorWORD found you need a tape "
exit
else
echo " all is well-- you got a tape"
fi
###----------------># end is there a tape test
#
####----# get JobNum # enter w spaces
echo “Please provide the jobNum -----! 5 digits NO SPACES !”
read jobNum
echo “Thanks…Processing Your ${jobNum} Now”
###---i need a date
start=$(date)
Ntime=$(date)
CalcStart=$(date +%s)
echo $Ntime > /home/ingex/pps_list/${jobNum}.txt

#---
#cd /media/*
cd /media/
#echo "dir is: `pwd`"

####---# make a txt file - later it might get upld--dunno
####-for the tape the 00index.txt
echo $jobNum > /media/00index.txt
echo $Ntime >> /media/00index.txt
ls -Rlh >> /media/00index.txt
#####-------TEST for usb drive Source goes dir here tbd-----#
###-for big saver
ls -Rlh >> /home/ingex/pps_list/${jobNum}.txt
ls -R > /home/ingex/pps_list/${jobNum}_short.txt
####--------------------------------------# the do
####----# make tape , assume 0
sudo tar --totals -H pax -cvf /dev/st0 *
###-----# start happytest
if [[ $? -ne 0 ]]
then
echo " backUP halt or error "
exit1
else

############
end=$(date)
CalcEnd=$(date +%s)
echo $end >> /home/ingex/pps_list/${jobNum}.txt

diff=$(( $CalcEnd - $CalcStart ))
## my dif effort needs work - need to do min only
#echo "Task Duration "$diff >> /home/ingex/pps_list/${jobNum}.txt

####-remove the 00index.txt
rm /media/00index.txt
####----------------------------------------------------# end do
####---------------------------------------------# Start mail
# email subject
SUBJECT="The Back Up Job Number: "$jobNum

# Email To ?
########### group
EMAIL="bu@mydomain.com"
########### devel
#EMAIL="jme@mydomain.com"

# Email text/message
EMAILMESSAGE="/tmp/emailmessage.txt"
echo "saver drive backed up to tape"> $EMAILMESSAGE
echo "the job: "$jobNum >>$EMAILMESSAGE
echo "............................................... " >>$EMAILMESSAGE
echo "Started: "$start >>$EMAILMESSAGE
echo " " >>$EMAILMESSAGE
echo "Finished: "$(date)>>$EMAILMESSAGE
echo "--------------------------------- " >>$EMAILMESSAGE
echo "total seconds "$diff >>$EMAILMESSAGE
echo "--------------------------------- " >>$EMAILMESSAGE
echo "machine = atkov ">>$EMAILMESSAGE
hour=`echo $diff/3600 | bc`
### ok the above does not work for sec to hours ###
echo " hours r; "$hour >>$EMAILMESSAGE
# send an email using /bin/mail
/bin/mail -s "$SUBJECT" "$EMAIL" < $EMAILMESSAGE
#echo "subject is " $SUBJECT
#####----------------------------------------------# end mail

echo "*********************************************************"
echo " . "
echo "backup " ${jobNum} " DONE "
echo " . "
echo "Total seconds It took "$diff
####- eject tape ** the whole eject merged w a tell maybe
#sudo mt -f /dev/st0 eject
#mt -f /dev/st0 eject
echo "--------------------------------------------------::good"
fi
###-----# end happytest
echo "eject with a 88888 then Label and be sure to Slide the RED for copy PROTECT NOW"

-----------------( end the main script

thanks