Shell Programming and Scripting

Hello all,

I have a few questions regarding a UNIX script I've been asked to write (even though I barely know UNIX!).

I would like to write a script, that when run, will copy a file from one directory to another, copy and rename the same file with a datestamp to an archive directory, and them delete the file from the current directory.

This is what I came up with and was hoping the experts here could throw in their 2 cents. (I'm assuming this works, as I'm still waiting on getting access to the server as well as getting the SSH Tectia Client installed on my workstation):

approve.sh - (name I plan on giving the script)

#PATH variable should include /bin directory ???
#script can then be executed by typing "sh approve filename"
#
#Step 1 - Copy to Prod
#
echo "Copying file $1 to Production Directory"
cp [-fip] $1 $1 /prod/appfolder
#
#Step 2 - Copy to Archive
#
echo "Archiving file $1 to Archive Directory"
DAY=`date +%d`
MONTH=`date +%b`
YEAR=`date +%Y`
cp $1 $1.$MONTH.$DAY.YEAR /archive/unknownfoldername
#
#Step 3 - Delete file (might be able to do this in step 2 with a move)
#
echo "Deleting file $1 from Temporary Directoty"
rm $1
exit 0

Does that look like something that will work? What concerns should I have when it comes to the authority to run the script? Will the person authorized to run the script need read authority to the file? I would like the "approver" who runs this script to have only read access to the file.

As you can tell I'm pretty new to this, so any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks!

why not move the file to a directory then copy the file with the new archive filename? this way you won't have to delete the file anymore.

Code:

#Get current date
dateNow=`date "+%m.%d.%Y"`

#Move file to another folder
mv ${1} /prod/appfolder/${1}

#Copy file with new archive name
cp -p /prod/appfolder/${1} /newfolder/${1}.${dateNow}

the person should at least have a read and execute permission to run this script. use chmod command to change permission of the script.

thanks

Thanks very much... I have 2 more questions:

1. I want to be able to put minutes and seconds on the timestamp, is that possible?

2. I want the script to exit with a message if the file isn't present to begin with, how do I do that?

Thanks in advance!

bump... anyone?

You can get hours, minutes, seconds from the date command. Do a man date. To test whether the file exists in the first place (so you can exit if it doesn't), see man test.

I'd use the "man" command if I could but I currently have zero access to any UNIX resources. Otherwise I'd just log in and start playing around with stuff.

I won't be given access to our dev UNIX box until sometime next week, which is when I'm expected to have this thing ready to go. I know that doesnt make much sense, but it's the situation I've been presented with.

I've modified it to (what I think will) give me the date/time info:

dateNow=`date "+%m.%d.%Y.%HH.%MM.%SS"`

But I've absolutely zero references as to how the test function works or how conditional processing (if.. then.. else) works in these scripts. (I'm a mainframe/VB programmer so I'm familiar with how things work and could probably pseudocode somthing up, but I have no way of testing, and my UNIX server support group refuses to do any programing or assist saying "thats not our job anymore")

Any help would be great...

They expect you to have code written and ready before you have access to the system? Sounds typical.

Anyway, I don't know what OS you are using, but you can look up the man pages for darn near anything at http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi.

Oh, and for the date stamp, %H.%M.%S will give you HH.MM.SS.