find: problems escaping printf-command string

grahamb · #1 (**permalink**) 12-04-2005

Hi Folks!

Can you help me with this find -printf command. I seem to be unable to execute the printf-command from my shell script. I'm confused:

My shell script snippet looks like this:

Code:

#!/bin/sh
..
COMMAND="find ./* -printf '%p %m %s %u %g \n'"
echo "Command: ${COMMAND}"
${COMMAND} > ${ARCHIVE_DIR}/${CURRENT_FILE}

With or without the single quotes enclosing the %p, etc, I get this error message:

Code:

Command: find ./* -printf '%p %m %s %u %g \n'
find: paths must precede expression

At the command line (bash), the command works. Further-more it only works for me with the single quotes enclosing the printf-command string.

Look forward to your replies
Grahamb

Using Fedora2.54 with bash; and #!/bin/sh for shell execution

grahamb · #2 (**permalink**) 12-04-2005

Hi You Guys!

I'm sure most of you have an answer to this one.

I'm trying to do a work around on the problem above, but get held up elsewhere!!!!!

So can't avoid this problem.

Here's my next stopper:

Code:

COMMAND="ls -la --full-time `find ./* -type f` "
${COMMAND} | awk '''{ print '$NF' '$0' }''' >> ${ARCHIVE_DIR}/${TMP_FILE}

The log file shows this error:

Code:

+ awk '{ print  /usr/share/scripts/security_check.sh }'

I'm half way there. I have the '{ }' parts carried to the command line. BUT the "$NF" is substituted to be blank and "$0" is substitued as the calling program!!

When I put \$NF inside the awk-brackets the "\" gets sent to the command line, eg:

Code:

+ awk '{ print  \$NF \$0 }'

Close but not close enough!

Can u help? Any ideas? Any links to help me?

regards
GrahamB

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