UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hi,

I am trying to get a loop counter i and set its value as the ouput of a command:

Code:

i=`printmo TEST1 | grep -i TEST2 | wc -l`

Then I want to use i as counter to run a loop i number of times.
Like if i gets a value of 5 I'll have to run loop 5 times.
But will i here be a numeric variable? If it won't be numeric then how can I make it a numeric variable and use it as couter to run the loop.

Please help. I tried to search but didn't get what I am looking for.

Thanks in advance,
Pramod

Try: in the script before the loop add a test for i like:

Code:

echo "$i" | grep -q '^[0-9][0-9]*$' || { echo "$i" not a number ; exit ; }

Thanks a lot for quick reply, I got this.
Does it mean its not a nomber or I shoul correct the command by changing q with r or something.

Code:

echo "$i" | grep -q '^[0-9][0-9]*$' || { echo $i not a number ; exit ; }
grep: illegal option -- q
Usage: grep -hblcnsviw pattern file . . .
6 not a number

Try:

Code:

echo "$i" | grep '^[0-9][0-9]*$' >/dev/null || { echo "$i" not a number ; exit ; }