Bash Script with command line arguments which are files [duplicate]

Question

I am trying to write a bash script which takes a file as a command line argument and appends the name of that file, the number of lines and the last modified date to the file. I am confused over how to access that file from within the bash script and how the command line arguments behave within the script.

Here's my script so far:

#!/bin/bash

filename = $1
linecount = $(wc -l $1)
lastmod = $(date -r $1)
echo "$filename $linecount $lastmod" >> $1

I think I'm doing something wrong with the $1 references. Generally confused about how to manipulate a command line argument that is a file.

there should not be white spaces around the assigment =. In other words, filename=$1 — jpmuc
– jpmuc, Commented Jan 30, 2013 at 20:34
Unless you want linecount to include the filename, use linecount=$( wc -l < $1 ) — William Pursell
– William Pursell, Commented Jan 31, 2013 at 9:15

John Kugelman · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-30 20:06:13Z

3

Remove the spaces around the equal signs. Assignments in shell scripts have to be mashed together like so:

filename=$1
linecount=$(wc -l $1)
lastmod=$(date -r $1)

answered Jan 30, 2013 at 20:06

John Kugelman

365k70 gold badges555 silver badges600 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

thiton · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-30 20:06:43Z

0

The positional arguments ($1, $2, ...) are the right method. You might run into problems with special characters (like space) and escaping, but otherwise your script should run fine.

answered Jan 30, 2013 at 20:06

thiton

36.1k4 gold badges74 silver badges104 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Bash Script with command line arguments which are files [duplicate]

2 Answers 2

Comments

Comments

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

Comments

Comments

Linked

Related