UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

I'm using the set command to name and log a file. The problem I'm exeriencing is that, I would like to have the set command overwrite the named logfile and not append to it. Can't seem to get the +o no clobber to work properly. Any help on this would greatly be appreciated.

Jimmy

The command "set +o noclobber" just turns on a switch inside of ksh that affects the way subsequent command work. But you gotta have some subsequent commands. I don't have the foggiest idea of what it might mean to "name and log a file" so I can't help you with the commands to do it. But whatever it is, "set +o noclobber" certainly isn't going to do it.

then how do I use the set command to overwrite a log file?

All you can do is turn noclobber on and off.
set -o noclobber # turn noclobber on
set +o noclobber # turn noclobber off
set -o # see all options

If noclobber is on a command like "echo hello > file" will fail if file already exists. You can overwrite the file anyway by using: "echo hello >| file". Or you can just turn off noclobber.

But the setting of noclobber will not suddenly give you extraordinary permission to write into unwritable files.