bash defeated??

Question

Ubuntu Breezy 5.10 (don't suggest an upgrade - it works!)

I'm trying to set up a script which updates some software on the hard drive from a directory on a USB Flash drive.

After I've plugged in the USB drive and seen it recognised by automount:

ls -l /vol/USBDISKB

OK - shows me the directory and files.

-BUT_

#!/bin/bash if [ -d /vol/USBDISKB ]; then echo "Found USB drive" else echo "Not found: USB drive!" fi

doesn't see the USB drive. :-((

P.S. I tried to edit so it looks like code. Really.

18/04/10 08:54 GMT Well! I don't know are am pretty stupid but I don't seem able to add a comment in response. All I seem able to do is edit my original post :(

The obvious typos you can put down to my newbieness.

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Accepted Answer

6	Try this: `#!/bin/bash if ls /vol/USBDISKB 2>/dev/null then echo "Found USB drive" else echo "Not found: USB drive!" fi` link answered 16 Apr '10, 12:50 jlliagre 151●3 accept rate: 50%

Answer 2

3

There should be a semicolon before the else.

This works in my rig

if [ -d /media/K4G ]; then echo "it is"; else echo "is not"; fi

link

answered 17 Apr '10, 16:38

LiquidPaper
121●1●3
accept rate: 0%

Semicolons are only necessary when putting everything on a single line. The above script will work just fine, although, the ! may be interpreted as strangely depending on the verison of bash. Since there aren't any variables or expansion needed, I would recommend enclosing that particular string in single quotes.

(01 Mar '13, 13:55) rfelsburg ♦

Answer 3

The script you've got here won't work because it is missing semi-colons, as another poster suggested:

#!/bin/bash
if [ -d /vol/USBDISKB ]; then echo "Found USB drive"; else echo "Not found: USB drive!"; fi

If you are going to put it into a script and not run it from the command line, then you can break it up so it is easier to read:

#!/bin/bash

if [ -d /vol/USBDISKB ]
then 
    echo "Found USB drive" 
else 
    echo "Not found: USB drive!"
fi

Note that this way, you don't need to include the semi-colons, because multiple commands aren't on the same line.

Good luck,

--jed

Answer 4

You can enter a multiline command at the shell prompt. The shell will prompt with $PS2 until the command is complete:

$ if [ -d /vol/USBDISKB ]
> then
>   echo "Found USB drive"
> else
>   echo "Not found: USB drive!"
> fi
Not found: USB drive!

The '!' in double quotes might cause a problem due to the ridiculous practice of using a printing character for something other than printing the character. I prevent it by setting $histchars to the emptry string in ~/.bashrc

Answer 5

0	Does it have to be a bash script? Maybe a PERL script would work better? link answered 17 Apr '10, 03:29 BaldGuyKen 31●3 accept rate: 0%

Answer 6

0	i think try while condition is the best for your case link answered 22 Apr '10, 07:19 Network Syst... 24●1●5 accept rate: 16%

Answer 7

0	Most of the above examples don't work, because of the ! It seems that putting the ! in quotes gives it a special meening, but outside of quotes is a regular charecter. (that seems backwards, maybe I am going mad) link answered 04 May '11, 12:04 daves dad 11●3●6 accept rate: 0%

Answer 8

0	Why not just upgrade to the latest LTS version, 10.04.2LTS? link answered 05 May '11, 10:07 Ron ♦ 936●1●7●18 accept rate: 13%

Answer 9

0

There are a couple of solutions to the exclamation mark:
1) put the string in single quotes:
echo 'Hello!'
2) put a space after the exclamation mark or no quotes
echo "hello! " ; echo Hello!

For some strange reason, bash will not delete a backslash that quotes the exclamation mark when inside double quotes.

link

answered 02 Mar '13, 19:57

darkonc
1
accept rate: 0%

Answer 10

0

Are you sure /vol/USBDISKB is the mountpoint? Try this to see:

mount | grep USBDISKB

Another option is to use the mountpoint command instead of brackets:

if mountpoint -q /vol/USBDISKB; then echo "it is"; else echo "is not"; fi

Or just:

mountpoint /vol/USBDISKB

link

answered 07 Nov '13, 07:05

KenJackson
51●1●3
accept rate: 0%

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