Help with a script

Linux and Unix-Like Ubuntu
1

Hello everyone! I am new here, and just started playing with Unix/Ubuntu and started learning scripting just this week. Sorry if the question is so basic :slight_smile:

I have a file that has two columns, in column one I have usernames;
first.last

and in the second column I have the matching real name;
First Last

Some are longer names/usernames than others, so they are not lined up pretty (I did find help on the forum to do that, but my assignment wants it to be a simple space between the user.name and real name)
as an example:
first.last First Last
first1.last1 First1 Last1
firs.lastlast Firs Lastlast

is there a way to make a script that would allow me to prompt the runner of the script for a username for the first column, and a matching "real name" for the second, and have that be appended to the file?

I appriciate the help a great deal. Sorry if the post is a little wordy
~Robert

2

Is this the sort of thing you are after? It runs in ksh, hence the odd comment at the top.

#!/bin/ksh

read uid?"What users are you looking for? "          # Prompt and accept input
grep "^$uid " file | read userid fn sn               # Use your file name here
echo "The owner of $uid is $fn $sn"                  # Display result

Have I missed the point?

I hope that this helps,
Robin
Liverpool/Blackburn
UK

1 Like
3

Thanks for the fast response Robin!
I don't think I explained what I was needed all that well, so the response you gave wasn't able to help, but is appriciated all the same!

right now the file is called USERS.REF.BAK and it has a format similar to this
mark.wallace15 Mark Wallace
jimi.johns Jimmy Franks
sand.which Sand Which

Names have been changed to protect my classmates identities! :slight_smile:

I just want to be able to add to the bottom of the list a new username and matching name to accompany it :slight_smile:

Thank you again for the first response as well as anything else you might be able to help with!
Robert

4

Aha! I got it COMPLETELY the wrong way then :o
Let's try with this:-

#!/bin/ksh

read uid?"What users are you adding? "          # Prompt and accept input
read wholename?"What is their human name? "     # Prompt and accept input
echo "$uid $wholename" >> file                  # Display result

Is that a bit better? The >> appends to the named file.

Have I done any better this time? There is no validation here, of course, so one could input anything, or even nothing. Is that a problem? :eek:

Robin

1 Like
5

You sir, are a scholar and a gentleman! I really appriciate that help, and it worked perfectly!
THANKS!

Robert

6

Hope your instructor doesn't watch this forum :slight_smile: