UNIX for Beginners Questions & Answers

Hello,

I'm a first time poster looking for help in scripting a task in my daily routine. I am new in unix but i am attracted to its use as a mac user.

Bear with me...

I have several files (20) that I manually drag via the mouse into several named directories over a network. I've used rsync to copy files from directories but i don't know how to move or copy the 20 jpgs into the corresponding 20 directories which have 01-20 as identifiers.
In other words, each jpg goes into a ]01_filename_100px
02_filename_200px...so on til
20_filename _3000px

I have searched the web for several days without an intelligent answer...

I believe I need an expression or a loop to accomplish this. I tried applescript, automator and rsync but I reached frustration...

Ideally I would like to use a standard mac process, like terminal.

Can someone point me to a resource? a book? a link?

Thanks

SonnyClark

Do you know how to use the terminal on the mac?

I ask this because in your question, you mention "dragging".....

The task you are describing is a "terminal" level task, not a GUI "draggable" task (generally speaking).

Neo,
Thanks for the quick reply and the answer to your question is yes. I use the terminal for copying files with rsync.

For my posted question, however, I've been using the mouse on my mac to drag the files to the folders.

SonnyClark

I am rewriting my question for clarity. Please, please help me!

I have the following challenge which I am trying to solve via bash with an expression that takes the suffix of the file and the prefix of the folder as a target or another type of loop formula.

I'd like to move files with sequential numbers into existing sequential numbered directories. like:

Code:

filename_01.jpg   into folder name   01_foldername
filename_02.jpg   into folder name   02_foldername
filename_03.jpg   into folder name   03_foldername... so on...

I tried the following without much success

Code:

for f in *files2folders; do
  target_part="${E[0-9][0-9]}"
  target="${E[0-9][0-9]}"
  mv "$f" -t "${target} "*
done

I am a new linux student and would love explore this solution.

Could someone help me with a link or a tutorial to accomplish this?
I am using my shell terminal in a mac os environment.

Moderator's Comments:

Please do wrap your samples in CODE TAGS as per forum rules.

How is that "without much success" expressed? Error messages / warnings? Unexpected results? Explain...


A decent, detailed, consistent, complete specification pays off as you might get better replies, and sooner.


Your code sample wouldn't find any of the files in your data sample. Your variable assignments will give error messages.

The error I get from terminal:
-bash: E: bad array subscript
-bash: E: bad array subscript
The files and directories are located on my desktop in a directory called "files2folders"

Please, please - provide us with the info needed! Getting the entire context here is like pulling teeth!


Based on some guesswork on what your request and environment are, I came up with

Code:

for FN in files2folders/*.jpg
  do    TN="${FN%.*}_foldername"
        echo mv "$FN" "${FN%%/*}/${TN#*_}"
  done
mv files2folders/filename_01.jpg files2folders/01_foldername
mv files2folders/filename_02.jpg files2folders/02_foldername
mv files2folders/filename_03.jpg files2folders/03_foldername

remove the echo in case you're happy with what you see. How far would that get you?