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File exists and is empty

 
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# 1  
Old 02-09-2006
File exists and is empty
I've got a script with this snippet:

if [ -s $DATA_DIR/file.dat ]
then

I know that the -s indicates that the file exists and is not empty. How can I specify that the file exists, but is empty? I thought I could do:

if [[ -a $DATA_DIR/file.dat && ! -s $DATA_DIR/file.dat ]]
then

But this generates a "else unmatched" error on the else that follows.
# 2  
Old 02-09-2006
if [ ! -s $DATA_DIR/file.dat ]
then
# 3  
Old 02-09-2006
But wouldn't that test to true if either:
File does not exist OR
File exists but is empty

If so, I don't think that would work for me because I want something different to happen for each of those two scenarios.

If file does not exist, do this
If files exists, but is empty, do this
# 4  
Old 02-09-2006
Quote:
Originally Posted by dstinsman
But wouldn't that test to true if either:
File does not exist OR
File exists but is empty

If so, I don't think that would work for me because I want something different to happen for each of those two scenarios.

If file does not exist, do this
If files exists, but is empty, do this

Quote:
If file does not exist, do this
Code:
if [ ! -f file1 ]
then
echo "no such file"
fi

Quote:
If files exists, but is empty, do this
Code:
if [ ! -s file1 ]
then
echo "file exists but empty"
fi

# 5  
Old 02-09-2006
Aha...when I looked at man ksh for -f, it said:
-f file
TRUE, if file exists and is an ordinary file.

What does "ordinary file" mean?
# 6  
Old 02-09-2006
Ordinary = A regular disk file - data, text, executable, etc.
 
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