Shell Programming and Scripting

I will have to process multiple files with same name [filename.txt] everyday.
My requirement is:
If on a certain day I see that filename.txt exists then the contents of the filename.txt would be added/append
to the former file contents.Each time it sees the file the content would be added.But the header
should not be added
For ex: There exists this file
filename.txt
First Name|Second Name
John|Marshall

Next time I get the same file
filename.txt
First Name|Second Name
Jack|Dowell

I need the next file to become like
filename.txt
First Name|Second Name
John|Marshall
Jack|Dowell
Can you please suggest something? Thanks in advance.

Hi RubinPat,
How are you writing to a file? $ command >> filename.txt will append the output of the command to an existent file.
$ command > filename.txt will create a new file or overwrite an existent one.

I am not writing it but I need to process the file. I should be more clear.

I have a file named filename.txt already in the folder

Now the requirement is :


Now I get another file with same name filename.txt .


So my code will be like this

if the file with name filename.txt already exists
then
append the contents of the new file into the old file without the header.

I hope im clear.

Since this situation will occur multiple times I beleieve I have to use "for do" loop

I am stuck with the same filename append part.

Hi Rubin can u be a bit clear?

Yes Henry,

I have

filename.txt
Name|Place
a|b

I get
filename.txt
Name|Place
c|d

I need
filename.txt
Name|Place
a|b
c|d

Only there is a condition "for do loop" needs to be used to determine the eistence of the file filename.txt......Any idea

normally , you can't get 2 files with the same name on the same directory..unless you are talking about filename.txt at a different directory.

actually, ghostdog...the scenario is
i will have a file already named filename.txt in the directory

Now when the next comes with the name filename.txt ,

my code has to look
for filename.txt
if exists
then append the contents of new file to the older one [except the header]...

I hope i could explain

Any clue...nyways thanks gostdog