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For loop -- noob question

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# 1  
Old 12-30-2012
For loop -- noob question
Hello,

I am new to shell scripting and i am trying to figure why is this not working with else statement.

I am searching for every directory in that DIR i am in, however the "else" seems to be triggered whenever the run the script..

Much thanks in advance!

Code:
#!/bin/shell

for item in *
do
		if [ -d $item ]
			then
				echo $item		
			else
				echo	"nothing exist"
					
		
fi
done

# 2  
Old 12-30-2012
directories live in hierarchies - parent -> child.
The find command "knows" this, your script does not

usage:
Code:
cd /somewhere
find . -type d

where find . means start in the current directory which is called ".",
-type is the kind of file, -type d is directory
# 3  
Old 12-30-2012
Quote:
Originally Posted by jim mcnamara
directories live in hierarchies - parent -> child.
The find command "knows" this, your script does not

usage:
Code:
cd /somewhere
find . -type d

where find . means start in the current directory which is called ".",
-type is the kind of file, -type d is directory
Thanks Jim for your detail response.

I just wanted to explore using for loop with if statement and "else" -- just experimenting but i don't understand the logic why the else statement is triggered when the file does exist or doesn't. Any ideas why? Thanks again!
# 4  
Old 12-30-2012
I don't know why it does not work, perhaps no files are present?
However if you are only looking for directories in the current directory, try:

Code:
for dir in */
do
  echo "$dir"
done


--
btw, I don't know if it is deliberate, but /bin/shell will probably not exist on your system.
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