-$arg not working for find mmin

Shell Programming and Scripting
1

Hi,

I want to parameterise the argument for 'mmin' to find out files created/edited 'n' minutes ago.
For this i have written something as simple as the following:

n=10
m=-1
c=expr $n \* $m    #value comes to -10 when echoed
find -mmin -10      #works
find -mmin $c      #doesnt work                 
This throws error
find: missing argument to `-mmin'

I tried find -mmin "$c" ,"${c}" ,didnt work.

Kindly help.
Thanks in advance. :slight_smile:

2 
c=`expr $n \* $m`

or

c=$(expr $n \* $m)

or

((c=n*m))
3

Please post what Operating System and version you have and what Shell you prefer.

As posted this does not execute the expr .
Did you mean:

c=`expr $n \* $m` #value comes to -10 when echoed

Or perhaps if you have a modern Shell:

c=$((n * m))
4

Thanks Frank and Methyl.

I tried the suggested options but they didnt work.
I use bash shell and the below version of linux

Linux Test 2.6.18-92.el5 #1 SMP Tue Apr 29 13:16:15 EDT 2008 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

g= expr $m \* $n                                 # output: -10
d= $(expr $m \* $n )                           # output:  -10: command not found
e= `expr $m \* $n`                              # output:  -10: command not found
f = $ ((a*b))                                        # output:  f : command not found

find -mmin $g                                     # find: missing argument to `-mmin'
find -mmin $d                                     # find: missing argument to `-mmin'              
find -mmin $e                                      # find: missing argument to `-mmin'
find -mmin $f                                       # find: missing argument to `-mmin'

Kindly suggest.

5

there should not any space after the = (equal symbol)

 
d=$(expr $m \* $n )
6

Thanks Itkamaraj.
That worked. :slight_smile:
I am new to shell scripting.Will be careful of such nuances.