Script Course

File Operators Tests

Escape Sequence

Test Statements

• -d File True if file is a directory
• -e File True if file exists
• -f File True if file exists and is a regular file
• -r File True if file is readable by you
• -s File True if file exist and is not empty
• -w File True if the file is writable by you
• -x File True if the file is executable by you
• -z String True if string is empty
• -n String true if string is not empty

Syntax

[condition to test for]

Example

[ -e /etc/passwd ]
-e True if file exists

Exit Status return codes

• Every command returns an exit status
• range from 0 - 255
• 0 = success
• Other than 0 = error condition
• use for error checking

$? Contains the return code of the previously executed command

ls /not/here
echo "$?"

-

HOST = "google.com"
ping -c 1 $HOST
if [ "$?" -eq "0" ]
then 
echo "$HOST reachable."
else
echo "$HOST unreachable"
fi

' And and || or

• && = And : if first fails the other won't be executed

mkdir /tmp/bak && cp test.txt /tmp/bak/

• || OR - if one fails the other will be processed

cp test.txt /tmp/bak || cp test.txt /tmp

Chaining multiple commands

cp test.txt /temp; cp test.text /tmp