Shell Programming and Scripting

Im trying to make a very simple find the first file with the .zip extension in a specific folder and open that file.

The folder path and file name will vary every-time and it may contain spaces. If I try to look

For this example the folder directory is /Users/username/Desktop/testfolder/abc def/ and the file is firstfile.zip.

If I manually enter the file destination it does

Code:

file=`find ~/Desktop/testfolder/abc\ def -name '*.zip' | head -1`
echo $file

It finds the file.
/Users/user/Desktop/testfolder/abc def/firstfile.zip

but if I try to use a Variable for the path it fails.

Code:

downdir='~/Desktop/testfolder/abc\ def'
file=`find "$downdir" -name '*.zip' | head -1`
echo $file

It gives me an error
find: ~/Desktop/testfolder/abc\ def: No such file or directory

I tried to use single quotas and double quotas and no quotas but can't get this to go. Any help would be appreciated.

double quotes -

Code:

downdir="~/Desktop/testfolder/abc\ def"

I tried it but still have the same issue using double quotas.
find: ~/Desktop/testfolder/abc\ def: No such file or directory

The tilde has to be evaluate by the shell... much like a globbing char would be.

So you could force a layer of evalution.

For example

Code:

eval downdir="~/Desktop/testfolder/abc\ def"

Just a long as there's no variable involved in downdir... if there is, you have to VERY careful since a extra round of evaluation is being done (consider variables passed in with backticks or $() depending on shell).

Thanks that worked.

All you need is:

Code:

downdir=~/Desktop/testfolder/abc\ def

Thanks cfajohnson.. you are correct.