currently it has the following:
bdumpN=`ll /home/apps/oracle/admin/DBprod/bdump/DBprod_j* | grep "$Cdate" | wc -l`

If I pass the DBname, I would not have to hardcode it in the script...
I can capture the database name by adding the following:
DBname=$1

The problem is, I have been unable to get the listing to work properly (the following do not work):
bdumpN=`ll /home/apps/oracle/admin/$DBname/bdump/$DBname_j* | wc -l`
and tried
bdumpN=`ll /home/apps/oracle/admin/$DBname/bdump/$DBname"_j*" | wc -l`

Both do not return the correct DBprod_j* files...

If I run the command in-line, I get the following:
# ll /home/apps/oracle/admin/DBprod/bdump/DBprod_j* | wc -l
8

here is a list of files:
-rw-r--r-- 1 oracle dba 24716 Mar 4 06:01 /home/apps/oracle/admin/DBprod/bdump/DBprod_j000_10115.trc
-rw-r--r-- 1 oracle dba 24917 Mar 8 06:01 /home/apps/oracle/admin/DBprod/bdump/DBprod_j000_13643.trc
-rw-r--r-- 1 oracle dba 25099 Mar 9 06:01 /home/apps/oracle/admin/DBprod/bdump/DBprod_j000_14782.trc
-rw-r--r-- 1 oracle dba 25237 Mar 11 06:01 /home/apps/oracle/admin/DBprod/bdump/DBprod_j000_16386.trc
-rw-r--r-- 1 oracle dba 1090 Mar 9 18:34 /home/apps/oracle/admin/DBprod/bdump/DBprod_j000_21193.trc
-rw-r--r-- 1 oracle dba 25196 Mar 10 07:46 /home/apps/oracle/admin/DBprod/bdump/DBprod_j000_29055.trc
-rw-r--r-- 1 oracle dba 24915 Mar 7 08:25 /home/apps/oracle/admin/DBprod/bdump/DBprod_j000_29819.trc
-rw-r--r-- 1 oracle dba 23426 Mar 6 00:00 /home/apps/oracle/admin/DBprod/bdump/DBprod_j001_10244.trc

thanks,
manny

Try:
bdumpN=`ll /home/apps/oracle/admin/$DBname/bdump/${DBname}_j* | wc -l`

Perderabo, I owe you...it worked
thanks,
manny