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Check if a file exists with certain prefix

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# 1  
Old 08-19-2008
Question Check if a file exists with certain prefix
Hi guys,
How would i check a file exists with certainprefix? i have a directory with some files:
ABC1
ABC2
ABC3
etc..

and want to do:
please note i am using the korn shell environment.As when i gone through some stuff on then net i came to know some of the options will work differently based on the working shell environment.tht's wy i am specially mentioning my envrionment.


Code:
if [file exists with prefix ABC*] then
do something
else
do something else
fi

Any one could help me on this!!!!!


Advanced Thanks
Narasimharao.
# 2  
Old 08-19-2008
use find command.. go through man page..try to do it your self
# 3  
Old 08-19-2008
vidyadhar's solution is also a good way to go but if you want something in ksh:

Code:
#!/bin/ksh

if [ -f ABC* ]
then
	echo file exists.
else
	echo not
fi

# 4  
Old 08-19-2008
PHP
Hi redoubtable,
the below code is working for only exact file names(i mean the -f option).could you please tell me the way for finding files with certain prefix.I know the find command.but i need another way by using simple if command and along with their options.

Hi can any one please help me on this..........

Advanced Thanks
Narasimharao.
# 5  
Old 08-19-2008
The code I gave you works for filenames starting with "ABC".
ABC1, ABC2, ABC3.
Code:
redoubtable@Tsunami ~ $ ls -l ABC*
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 2008-08-19 11:42 ABC1
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 2008-08-19 11:42 ABC2
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 2008-08-19 11:42 ABC3
redoubtable@Tsunami ~ $

Code:
redoubtable@Tsunami ~ $ ./s.ksh 
file exists.
redoubtable@Tsunami ~ $ cat s.ksh 
#!/bin/ksh

if [ -f ABC* ]
then
	echo file exists.
else
	echo not
fi
redoubtable@Tsunami ~ $

The '*' provides the capability of matching not only exact file names but also every file name starting with ABC. Remember that you must not use " in ABC.

Example:
This is ok:
Code:
if [ -f ABC* ]

This is wrong:
Code:
if [ -f "ABC*" ]

# 6  
Old 08-19-2008
You can do something like this:

Code:
for file in *; do
  prefix=echo ${file:0:3}
  if [ "$prefix" = "ABC" ];  then
    # do something
  else
    # do something else
  fi
done

Regards
Last edited by Franklin52; 08-19-2008 at 10:18 AM.. Reason: ${file:1:3} must be ${file:0:3}
# 7  
Old 08-19-2008
Hi Franklin52,
what i remember is the bash counts the number of the variable from 0, isn't it ?
so, I think that should be:
Code:
prefix=echo ${file:0:3}

Regards
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