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Test: argument expected

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# 1  
Old 08-19-2013
Test: argument expected
The following example prompts are passed into the shell script.
Code:
$1 = /tmp/dir/
$2 = varies (test.txt, test1.txt, test2.txt...)
$3 = test_YYYYMMDD.txt

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Code:
#!/bin/sh
cd $1

if [ $2 = "test.txt" ]; then
        if [ -e $2 ]; then
                echo $2 $3
                echo 'File already exists'
                mv $2 $3
                exit 1
        else
                echo 'File not found'
                exit 0
        fi
else
        if [ -s $2 ]; then
                echo $2 $3
                echo 'File already exists and is not empty'
                mv $2 $3
                exit 1
        else
                echo 'File not found or is empty'
                exit 0
        fi
fi

------------------------------------------------------------
If say the file is test1.txt then it finishes correctly with no errors. However, if it is test.txt then I can see it evaluate the -e part because I turned on debugging. What I see is:
+ [ test.txt = test.txt ]
+ [ -e test.txt ]
scriptpathandscriptname: test: argument expected

Does anyone have any information as to why I am getting the argument expected? Any information would be helpful.

Moderator's Comments:
Mod Comment edit by bakunin: when we asked you to PLEASE USE CODE TAGS we really meant it. Use them!
Last edited by bakunin; 08-19-2013 at 11:55 AM..
# 2  
Old 08-19-2013
Dont you have to use [ $2 == "test.txt" ] instead?
# 3  
Old 08-19-2013
I think I tried that and it gave me an error: test: unknown operator ==
# 4  
Old 08-19-2013
Quote:
Originally Posted by smkremer
Code:
cd $1

if [ $2 = "test.txt" ]; then

The prolem is probably one of the lines i have quoted or the similar lines in your code. You should always quote such strings, in case they are empty or containing blanks, tabs and other special characters:

Code:
cd "$1"

if [ "$2" = "test.txt" ]; then

etc..

I hope this helps.


bakunin
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