I have a server that receives backup files from several servers. Each server has its own directory to scp their files into, some of the files are received as .tar files and need to be compressed before being dumped. When the scp of the tar file is complete a file named 'flag' is also sent to indicate that the scp of the zip file is complete.

The following script is supposed check for any existing flag files and .tar files and run bzip2 on any .tar files found.
The specific problem is that, on the first while loop if no flag or tar file is found the second loop is not initiated. If the data for the first loop exists then both loops run as expected. (Currently only data for two servers are included for testing).

I've looked and looked for the error in my logic and it eludes me. Could someone point out my blind spot?

The data file being read is appended after the code.

Thanks
Thumper

#!/bin/bash
#
# set -n  
 set -x  

##########################################################
####################### FUNCTIONS ######################
##########################################################
file_exists () {
    echo "ENTERING FILE_EXISTS"
    echo "the value of \$1 is ${1}"
    echo "the value of \$2 is ${2}"

    if [ -e ${1} ]  #test for the flag file
        then
            if [ -e ${2} ]  #test for the .tar file
                then
                     `bzip2 ${2}`   #bzip the .tar file
                     `rm ${1}`       #remove the flag file
                else  #no .tar file found
                    mail -s "No ${2} file found" thumper@somewhere.net
            fi
        else  #no flag file found
                        mail -s "No ${1} file found" thumper@somewhere.net
    fi
    return 0
}
#### end
##########################################################
#################### MAIN ################################
##########################################################

while IFS=: read dir sname flag ext
do
        VAL_1="/$dir/$sname/$flag"
        VAL_2="/$dir/$sname/$ext"
        echo ${VAL_1}; echo ${VAL_2}
#       echo "Calling file_exists"

            file_exists ${VAL_1} ${VAL_2}

#       echo "Exited file_exists"
        echo "VAL_1 is ${VAL_1}"
        echo "VAL_2 is ${VAL_2}"
        echo "\$? is $?"
done < /root/scripts/bz-data
# End of script

I've tested your script but on my Linux box I have no problems at all... I've tried all the possible missings of flag/tar files combinations but I can't reproduce your behavior.

test ~ $ bash --version
GNU bash, version 3.2.33(1)-release (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu)
Copyright (C) 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

I didn't realize that the OS or bash version could cause such an issue.
Anyhow the OS is
# uname -a
Linux sport 2.6.11.4-21.17-default #1 Fri Apr 6 08:42:34 UTC 2007 i686 athlon i386 GNU/Linux

And the bash version is
# bash --version
GNU bash, version 3.00.16(1)-release (i586-suse-linux)
Copyright (C) 2004 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
and the bash version is

If anyone knows of a cause for this problem I would appreciate help.

Thanks again
Thumper