Back quote problem

ETC Homework & Coursework Questions
1

Use and complete the template provided. The entire template must be completed. If you don't, your post may be deleted!

  1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data:
    Print out problem with line follow:
echo There are '$cat $fname | wc -l' contacts in database

how do I replace single quote with a backquote from Vi or nano?

  1. Relevant commands, code, scripts, algorithms:
#!/bin/bash

#export all output to fname

fname=names.dat

echo "Please Enter your contact name as follow:"

echo "Given name: "
read name

echo "Surname: "
read surname

echo "Street address"
read street

echo "City you live in"
read city

echo "States"
read states

echo "Zip code"
read zipcode

echo $name   $surname   $street   $city   $states   $zipcode >> $fname

{
 echo
 echo Here are the current contacts in the database:
 echo
 cat $fname

} | more

echo There are "$cat $fname | wc -l" contacts in database
  1. The attempts at a solution (include all code and scripts):
There are  names.dat | wc -l contacts in database

My attempt to printout how many users in database

  1. Complete Name of School (University), City (State), Country, Name of Professor, and Course Number (Link to Course):
    This does not relate to my school work.. Addition info that I learn from my own.

Note: Without school/professor/course information, you will be banned if you post here! You must complete the entire template (not just parts of it).

2

Since you are using bash rather than a pure Bourne shell, why not use:

$(cat $fname | wc -l)

or, much better,

wc -l < "$fname"

instead of:

`cat $fname | wc -l`

?

If you must use backquotes, on most US keyboards, the backquote ( ` ) and tilde ( ~ ) characters are on the key to the left of the key with 1 (unshifted) and ! (shifted).

3

Thank you.