Hi,
I have a directory that is used to store files generated by another application. Each file is huge and can take some time to produce.
I am writing a shell script to check the names and dates of the files and do some functions on the ones that are not being written out.

My question is, if I use a command like cat for example on a file that is being written by another application (while it is being written) will I get an error or will the cat just retunr a zero return code?

For example, if the application was generating file called f1, and I do this:
cat f1>f2
what would be the return code?

I am using Sun/Solaris and I find this kind of hard to test.

Thanks in advance.

Ahem....

#! /usr/bin/ksh
exec > f1
echo first line
while : ; do
       sleep 1
       echo yet another line
done

Im not sure but i guess it will say 'Cannot open f1'...

Cheers
Thumsup

Maybe he is trying to idnetify open files - like fuser or lsof.