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Creating a new directory by getting input from user

 
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# 1  
Old 02-08-2014
Creating a new directory by getting input from user
Hi All,

I am really new to Linux.I am trying to write a script for creating a new directory by getting input of folder name from the user.Please help me in this regard.

Code:
#! /bin/bash
echo "Enter name of dir":$filename
mkdir -p $filename

When executing this I am getting following error

Code:
pradeep@pradeep-VirtualBox:~/sample$ sh test.sh 123
Enter name of dir:
mkdir: missing operand

I am using Ubuntu running in virtual box.

Thanks.Smilie
Last edited by bartus11; 02-08-2014 at 07:51 AM.. Reason: Please use [code][/code] tags.
# 2  
Old 02-08-2014
Welcome to the forums...

Try :

Code:
#! /bin/bash
echo "Enter name of dir":
read filename
mkdir -p $filename

This User Gave Thanks to Akshay Hegde For This Post:
Pradeep_1990
# 3  
Old 02-08-2014
Thanks a lot..Smilie
Can u also please suggest some good sites,books for beginners in Shell Scripting..
Thanks again.
# 4  
Old 02-08-2014
As I always suggest unix.com is the best place for learning, this forum has got prompt support,and you can post your doubts here, our forum members will help, and you can go through this book also Classic Shell Scripting - O'Reilly Media
# 5  
Old 02-08-2014
As an addendum to Ashkay's post...
ALWAYS remember to check if the directory/folder/drawer exists or not to prevent
unwanted error reports.
Checking applies to files, etc, across the board to prevent major script exits too.
Here is a very simplified version of such s task longhand from an OSX 10.7.5 bash
terminal.
Code:
Last login: Sat Feb  8 12:50:06 on ttys000
AMIGA:barrywalker~> drawer="/Users/barrywalker/Desktop/Code"
AMIGA:barrywalker~> if [ -d "${drawer}" ]
> then
> echo "$drawer exists..."
> else
> echo "Create your drawer in this section..."
> fi
/Users/barrywalker/Desktop/Code exists...
AMIGA:barrywalker~> drawer="/Users/barrywalker/Code"
AMIGA:barrywalker~> if [ -d "${drawer}" ]
> then
> echo "$drawer exists..."
> else
> echo "Create your drawer in this section..."
> fi
Create your drawer in this section...
AMIGA:barrywalker~> _

Hope this helps...
This User Gave Thanks to wisecracker For This Post:
Pradeep_1990
# 6  
Old 02-08-2014
To expand on what wisecracker said: whenever you write a script - especially one which depends on user input - you should strive to have an answer to every problem that might happen. The script does not have to solve the problem, but it has to notice it and report the error condition because of which it couldn't do what it was supposed to do.

What can possibly go wrong in creating a directory:

- directory already exists
- supposed name is malformed (like in containing "/", for instance)
- parent directory does not exist (you dealt with that by using "-p", but is that a wise decision?)
- script is not allowed to create directory
- filesystem is full (ran out of inodes)

and probably some obscure reasons more.

I hope this helps.

bakunin
These 2 Users Gave Thanks to bakunin For This Post:
babinlonston Pradeep_1990
# 7  
Old 02-08-2014
Thanks a lot Guys..

@wisecrackerSmiliene question though..

Code:
if [ -d "${drawer}" ]

What does this line do ?

Thanks all again..Smilie
Last edited by radoulov; 02-11-2014 at 05:04 AM..
 
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