Shell Programming and Scripting

linux fedora core2
i am trying to write a script to clear, date, pwd and tty a linux termnal or konsole.. when I test the tty against $0 i am, getting a premission denied on the terminal that I am trying to printf to.. I tried using an awk command, test condition, an if then fi clause, but either all the terminals respond similiarly or I get permission denied on /dev/pts/?....
what am I doing wrong and why won't the script work.. and is there a way to find out the file for the particular terminal number that I am looking for and change the permissions.. which I have not been able to do..
thanx moxxx68

How about posting the script that you have so far? Would be easier to trouble shoot if you posted it.

this may look easy.. infact the first time I tried it last year right when i first started to use linux it worked.. on one of the linux systems that I have had.. I have had 4 systems include this one 3 old laptops to expriment with an o.k desktop and now a new HP pavillion laptop finally to work on bigger things.. but after trying the programm the first time, the second and third time i got confused.
# ! /bin/sh
# .filename

script 1
function print () { clear; pwd; date; tty; }
`tty`="TTY"
if [ $TTY = "/dev/pts/3 ]
then
print
echo "experimental terminal"
else
print
fi


script 2 (of several )

{ clear; pwd; date; tty; `tty`="TTY" | awk '{if($0 == /dev/pts/3)print "experimental terminal"}; }

or

function print () { clear; pwd; date; tty; }
if ($PWD == such and such dir)
then
print
echo " experimental terminal" >/dev/pts/3
else
print'
fi

This bit...

`tty`="TTY"

...seems wrong. If you want to store the name of the terminal, use...

TTY=`tty`

Also, "print" is not a good name for a function as it may conflict with a shell builtin with the same name.

Incidentally, if you just want to send a message to the terminal, then you can use the special file: /dev/tty, e.g....

echo "Howdy" > /dev/tty

the problem with this :
> /dev/tty is that I want it to look like this..
etc etc > /dev/tty/(3) and even that gives me a permission denied message... infact it isn't responding..

i tried
# !/bin/sh
# file
TTY=`tty`
function fun () { clear; date; pwd; tty }
if [ $TTY == "/dev/tty/3" ]
then
fun
printf " etc etc " > /dev/tty/3
else
fun
fi

i guess I am just being obsessed I'll drop it for a couple of weeks and come back to it /...
thanx for the input!
i am lacking experience and prectice so i guess I try again later

thanx moxxx68;;

ps...by the way ygor i commend you on your skills!

actually it worked !
I have no words to tell you how amazed I am at the fact that i missed it by a mile trying to script it in when it was so simple..
{ clear; date; pwd; tty; printf " etc etc" > /dev/pts/3 }
thanx a million..
thanx moxxx68

# !/bin/sh
# .clear

TTY=`tty`
function fun { clear; pwd; date; tty; }

if [ "$TTY" == "/dev/pts/3" ]
then

fun
echo "experimental terminal" > /dev/pts/3
else
fun
fi

the other code had a bug in it.. but this worked.. this is major jump for me since I am new to scripting... thanx again..
thanx moxxx68