Shell Programming and Scripting

Hi all,

I have a script that checks for the existence of files in a directory. Problem is,
if a file suddenly appears, I need to move it to another directory and then
call another program that does not import routines (within our DBMS).

Now, this script is ever running and uses the sleep command to run every
second. Now, how would I be able to run the called process and wait
until it is done. I've tried the wait command, but its not successful as I
believe a new PID is being generated.

Here's what i have so far: (mind you, its messy)

Thanks!


#!/bin/ksh
# destscan_daemon - Program runs as a faux-service and looks for any files in the
# pickup directory designated in config. file and processes
# data in filePro. Results are dropped off in a directory
# also designated in config.
#
# usage: destscan_daemon [runs as daemon/service]
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# set script configuration file
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CfgFile="/usr/local/bin/destscan_daemon.cfg"

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# read configuration file & variable declarations info script
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
if [ -s "${CfgFile}" ] ; then
. $CfgFile
else
echo "Could not start service! Configuration file missing!" >&2
exit 0
fi
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# start service. if anything exists in pickup, start processing
#---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pickup="/u/pickup"
ProcDir="/u/process"
DoImport="my command to import"
Stat=1

if [ -d "${Pickup}" ] ; then
while true ; do
ls $Pickup -1 | while read line ; do
set ${line} ; EdiFile=$1
if [ $EdiFile != "" ] ; then
Stat=2
mv $Pickup/$EdiFile $ProcDir/$EdiFile
InFile=$ProcDir/$EdiFile ; export InFile
$DoImport
Stat=1 ; wait
fi
done
if [ $Stat != 2 ] ; then
sleep 1
fi
done

else
echo "Could not start service! $Pickup directory missing!" >&2
fi

I think you can let the service run in the background and check the process, for example, every 5s. If the process is finished then you execute your script.
Hope that helps.

Are you using Linux? If so, you can install the inotify-tools package (project page). Then call inotifywait with appropriate switches and the file or directory name. It sleeps until there is a file event and then wakes up.

That's much better than polling.

Thanks Ken!

I've just installed and I'm trying it out their examples.

Thank you again!
G