UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

I am wanting to test the output from a script. If the out put = Object does not exist. I need to delete the output file.
I am using , filecontents=`grep -i Object does not exist. $1.txt`
then I test the variable with,
if [ ${filecontents} = "Object does not exist." ]; then
delete file
But I get an error, grep: can't open leave_crew_allow_v.txt. Where leave_crew_allow_v.txt is the actual name assigned to the variable.

i am unsure what you mean by "If the out put = Object does not exist. I need to delete the output file."

but if your going to test for stuff in ksh use the "file atribute operators" to do the testing for you.

The text is redirected to a file, I need to verify that the script actually returned something useful, rather than "Object does not exist"

Hopefully my grep command looks at the output file contents, to verify that the script actually returned useful data, if not delete all related files.

I hope this is more insightful.

Thanks for the quick response.

I think your script needs a couple tweaks. The initial pattern you're searching for with grep should be surrounded by quotes. And there's an easier way to see the result of the grep command by using $?.

Code:

grep -qi "Object does not exist." $1.txt

if [ $? == 0 ]; then
 rm $1.txt
fi

I am using a Korn shell.

I get the response form the script of,

Object does not exist.
grep: illegal option -- q
Usage: grep -hblcnsviw pattern file . . .

When I try without the q, i get can open file again.

Sorry to be a pain.

I have made a major blunder, I forgot to put the paht to the output file, Doop...

I have it working perfectly now.

Thanks for the bearing with my ravings and bumblings.