UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

I got this script:

print -n "Enter file name: "
read name
....
.....
.....
etc

but at the prmpt, when I press enter (without typin a word), comes up with sum error message, is there away of getting it not to print that message??

More information is required (like the error message and more of the code) as the code you did put here does not come up with an error message.

print -n "Enter file name to be deleted: "
read name
if [ -f $name ]
then
rm $name
echo "file: $name has been deleted"
else
echo "this is not a file"
fi

This is the error message: usage: rm [-fiRr] file ...

When the promt "Enter file name to be deleted" comes up press enter (return).

Strange... I typed your code in and it worked fine - no error.
I copied it and then I got the error but I don't know why.
(I am also assuming /bin/ksh on this)
I added quotes in the if statement - it seems to work
./testone
Enter file name: junk2
file junk2 deleted
medusa% ./testone
Enter file name:
No such file
medusa% more testone

Code:

#!/bin/ksh
print -n "Enter file name: "
read name
if [ -f "$name" ]
then
        rm $name
        echo "file $name deleted"
else
        echo "No such file"
fi
exit

added code tags for readability --oombera

When the promt "Enter file name to be copied" comes up press enter (return), I get an error message, is there a new of getting rid of it or round it??


Copyfile () {
print -n "Enter file name to be copied: "
read sourcefile
if test ! -f $sourcefile
then
echo "File doesnt exist, press enter"
read answer
else
print -n "Enter name of new file that will hold contents of "$sourcefile
read targetfile
if test -f $targetfile
then
echo "The name: $targetfile is already in use"
else
cp $sourcefile $targetfile
echo "$sourcefile copied"

print -n "Do u want to repeat, and copy another"
read answer
case $answer in
[yY]) Copyfile ;;
[nN]) break ;;
*) echo " Do you want to repeat (y/n)?? "

Code:

read sourcefile 
if test ! -f $sourcefile 
then 
echo "File doesnt exist, press enter"

Try putting quotes around the $sourcefile...
Think of it this way:
if you just press return, $sourcefile is empty.
so the statement evaluates to:
"if test ! -f "
Same with the rm example that was first posted.
Trying checking to make sure the $sourcefile is not empty...

echo "Enter in the file name to be deleted"
read file
rm $file || echo "No file to delete"