Shell Programming and Scripting

Hello,

I am kinda new to Unix scripting, haven't really dabble very deep, but I am trying to at the moment.

Currently I am attempting to create a install script for my software. However what i would like to do is EVERYTHING that is outputted to screen (Including user input), is sent to a log file of my chosing.

E.g: variable set for Xfile name to X directory.

I know this is probably quite trivial but i would love it if you could give me some help if at all possible.

I am writing this sh script on on Linux (CentOS) .

Also, if you have any good links to some good Shell scripts commands or cheat sheets that would be awesome!.

Many thanks again.

type

echo put this in a file called file.txt > file.txt

using the ">" you just output to a file.txt


cat file.txt


want to add something else use ">>" to put more on the end

echo i want to add more stuff to my file.txt >> file.txt

cat file.txt
put this in a file called file.txt
i want to add more stuff to my file.txt

IS THAT WHAT YOU WANTED?

you can also use tee command

I understand how to use "> log_file" but that would only work for one command, and i would have to put that everywhere in the script!

I want everything that my script outputs to the screen placed in a log file, including user input.

Is there no an easier way of doing this?

Such as

Start Script --

Create logfile/Start recording --

Commands issued by the script
Commands issued by the script
Commands issued by the script
Commands issued by the script
User input
Commands issued by the script
Commands issued by the script
Commands issued by the script

Stop recording

End of script.

if you are using linux ( redhat or centos in particular, as I have to explored on other Nix'es ) are you looking for : script command



[root@server ~]# script
Script started, file is typescript
[root@server ~]# ls -l typescript
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Oct 4 17:20 typescript
[root@server ~]# cat typescript
[root@server ~]# ls -l typescript
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Oct 4 17:20 typescript
[root@server ~]# vi 123
[root@server ~]# vi 12345
[root@server ~]# ls -l typescript
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Oct 4 17:20 typescript
[root@server ~]#
[root@server ~]# exit
Script done, file is typescript
[root@server ~]# ls -l typescript
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1375 Oct 4 17:21 typescript
[root@server ~]# cat typescript
Script started on Sat 04 Oct 2008 05:20:08 PM IST
[root@server ~]# ls -l typescript
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Oct 4 17:20 typescript
[root@server ~]# cat typescript
[root@server ~]# ls -l typescript
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Oct 4 17:20 typescript
[root@server ~]# vi 123
[root@server ~]# vi 12345
[root@server ~]# ls -l typescript
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Oct 4 17:20 typescript
[root@server ~]#
[root@server ~]# exit

Script done on Sat 04 Oct 2008 05:21:02 PM IST
[root@server ~]#