UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

So I'm in a Unix class and our assignment was to go into VI and write a script to make this file tree. At the end of it, I'd like it to echo "This is the file tree you've created" then a line break, then [tree]. But I'm not sure as to who to do it. Is there a way for when I run it (./filesystem), the standard output will read it with a line break, and not all mushed together?

Learn about IFS variable ...

Will that help me with line breaks?

Do you mean that you want to have an empty line between your title, and the tree? If so, then using a second echo, with a null string will work. For example:

Code:

echo "Below is the list of files in the directory:"
echo ""    # space with an empty line
ls -al

The listing of files generated by the code above is separated from the "title" by a single blank line. You could also use a single printf:

Code:

printf "Below is the list of files in the directory:\n\n"

The double newline at the end creates the blank line.

If this isn't what you are talking about, please provide an example.

That is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!