Omitting some filenames for commands to process - Shell Programming and Scripting

milhan · #1 05-18-2006

hello all,

this topic might have been discussed but I couldn't find it with searching.

I am trying to do a for command that will dos2unix files one by one and save it under directory called backup (backup is in the same directory with other files). When I do:

Code:

for i in *
do
  dos2unix $i backup/"$i"
done

this will try to copy/dos2unix the backup directory itself too. Since it can't do it, it stops copying files. I know there is a way to specify in unix; like: everything but not something. In the above command I should be able to say

Code:

for i in * but not backup 
do
   cp files under backup
done

so that It will skip when encountered to backup directory file.

I hope I made sense...

azrealhk · #2 05-18-2006

You can try looking up the test command

you can use the if statement which also supports NOT,AND and OR.
Check you shell manuals for syntax e.g. man sh, man ksh, man csh

Here are some things you can check for with test
-r filename
True if filename exists and is readable.
-w filename
True if filename exists and is writable.
-x filename
True if filename exists and is executable.
-f filename
True if filename exists and is a regular file.
-d filename
True if filename exists and is a directory.
-h filename
True if filename exists and is a symbolic link.
With all other primitives (except -L filename),
the symbolic links are followed by default.
-s filename
True if filename exists and has a size greater
than zero.
-z s1 True if the length of string s1 is zero.

Glenn Arndt · #3 05-19-2006

Code:

for i in !(dos2unix)
do
  dos2unix $i backup/"$i"
done

Works in ksh and probably bash. !(x) == "everything but x".

milhan · #4 05-19-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenn Arndt

Code:

for i in !(dos2unix)
do
  dos2unix $i backup/"$i"
done

Works in ksh and probably bash. !(x) == "everything but x".

unfortunately, it doesn't work in bash shell, which is my favorite..

Code:

$ for i in !(backup); do dos2unix $i backup/"$i" ; done
bash: !: event not found

Thanks though, that was a good one...

Glenn Arndt · #5 05-19-2006

Bummer. Then I'd say to go with a test:

Code:

for i in *
do
  if [[ $i != dos2unix ]]; then
    dos2unix $i backup/"$i"
  fi
done

Ambikesh · #6 05-19-2006

Code:

#!/bin/ksh
#
for i in *
do  
 if [ ! -d $i ] 
 then 
  dos2unix $i backup/"$i"
 fi 
done

More UNIX and Linux Forum Topics You Might Find Helpful
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Awk:Find length of string omitting quotes	jayakumarrt	Shell Programming and Scripting	2	05-09-2008 12:48 AM
omitting lines from file A that are in file B	gneen	Shell Programming and Scripting	14	02-20-2008 02:33 AM
spaces in filenames, for do	naviztirf	Shell Programming and Scripting	4	10-17-2007 02:08 PM
tar contains duplicate filenames	dangral	UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers	2	03-14-2007 01:18 PM
code that reads commands from the standard i/p and executes the commands	Phrozen Smoke	High Level Programming	4	01-21-2007 11:06 PM

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode