# How to scan a file for literal, return 0 or 1 if found? **URL:** \ **Category:** Shell Programming and Scripting\ **Created:** [July 31, 2007, 11:23am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-scan-a-file-for-literal-return-0-or-1-if-found/173749 "2007-07-31T11:23:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bobk544](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/bobk544/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@bobk544](https://community.unix.com/u/bobk544)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 11:23am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-scan-a-file-for-literal-return-0-or-1-if-found/173749/1 "2007-07-31T11:23:49Z")
How can i scan a file in a UNIX script and look for a particular keyword? For example if i wanted to scan the file "lpcmp165.out" and see if it contains the term "error" or "ERROR" and then return a 0 or 1 or some indicator as such? Detail example: sqlplus -s xx/yyyyyyy#@zzz \<\ lpcmp165.out set pagesize 0 feedback off verify off heading off echo off set serveroutput on DROP INDEX PKM\_TCQ\_DT\_TPD\_LOAN\_EXLOAN\_ID; commit; exit; EOF if [lpcmp165.out contains "error"] ; then \<\<\<\<\< psuedo code echo "bad result" else echo "good result" fi lpcmp165.out contains this output: DROP INDEX xPKM\_TCQ\_DT\_TPD\_LOAN\_EXLOAN\_ID \* ERROR at line 1: ORA-01418: specified index does not exist ---
**Author:** ![Shell\_Life](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/shell_life/32/521_2.png) [@Shell\_Life](https://community.unix.com/u/Shell_Life)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 11:40am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-scan-a-file-for-literal-return-0-or-1-if-found/173749/2 "2007-07-31T11:40:23Z")
```nohighlight egrep "error|ERROR" lpcmp165.out 1>/dev/null 2>&1 mRetCode=$? if [$mRetCode -eq 0]; then echo 'Found' else echo 'Not found' fi ``` ---
**Author:** ![bobk544](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/bobk544/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@bobk544](https://community.unix.com/u/bobk544)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 11:53am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-scan-a-file-for-literal-return-0-or-1-if-found/173749/3 "2007-07-31T11:53:39Z")
wow! thanks again ShellLife! works great! can't say enough how helpful you've been over time, saved me many hours! have a great week! BobK ---
**Author:** ![bobk544](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/bobk544/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@bobk544](https://community.unix.com/u/bobk544)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 12:07pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-scan-a-file-for-literal-return-0-or-1-if-found/173749/4 "2007-07-31T12:07:07Z")
this site should hire you full time or set up some kind of Kudo's or donate button! ---
**Author:** ![Shell\_Life](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/shell_life/32/521_2.png) [@Shell\_Life](https://community.unix.com/u/Shell_Life)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 1:43pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-scan-a-file-for-literal-return-0-or-1-if-found/173749/5 "2007-07-31T13:43:13Z")
Thank you for your kind words, BobK. 🙂 Our satisfaction is to see your problems resolved. Take care! ---
**Author:** ![matrixmadhan](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/matrixmadhan/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@matrixmadhan](https://community.unix.com/u/matrixmadhan)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 2:05pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-scan-a-file-for-literal-return-0-or-1-if-found/173749/6 "2007-07-31T14:05:04Z")
ignore case -i option with grep ```nohighlight if [`grep -i error filename 1>/dev/null 2>&1` -eq 0] then echo "found" else echo "not found" fi ``` ---
**Author:** ![kahuna](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/kahuna/32/541_2.png) [@kahuna](https://community.unix.com/u/kahuna)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 2:33pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-scan-a-file-for-literal-return-0-or-1-if-found/173749/7 "2007-07-31T14:33:36Z")
> [@matrixmadhan](#): > > ```plaintext > if [`grep -i error filename 1>/dev/null 2>&1` -eq 0] > then > echo "found" > else > echo "not found" > fi > > ``` I think you meant ```plaintext if grep -i error filename 1>/dev/null 2>&1 then echo "found" else echo "not found" fi ``` ---
**Author:** ![matrixmadhan](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/matrixmadhan/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@matrixmadhan](https://community.unix.com/u/matrixmadhan)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 2:52pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-scan-a-file-for-literal-return-0-or-1-if-found/173749/8 "2007-07-31T14:52:13Z")
> [@kahuna](#): > > I think you meant > > ```plaintext > if grep -i error filename 1>/dev/null 2>&1 > then > echo "found" > else > echo "not found" > fi > > ``` No ! with this ```plaintext `grep -i error filename 2>/dev/null 1>&2` -eq 0 ``` the return value of grep command is directly equated to the value 0 o - success pattern has been found other value - pattern not found ---
**Author:** ![Shell\_Life](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/shell_life/32/521_2.png) [@Shell\_Life](https://community.unix.com/u/Shell_Life)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 3:11pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-scan-a-file-for-literal-return-0-or-1-if-found/173749/9 "2007-07-31T15:11:06Z")
Matrix, Your solution: ```nohighlight if [`grep -i error filename 1>/dev/null 2>&1` -eq 0] ``` does not work. Kahuna is right in fixing your 'if' statement: ```nohighlight if grep -i error filename 1>/dev/null 2>&1 ``` It is important to note that the option '-i' does not work as it greps for more than just 'error' and 'ERROR': 'Error', 'eRROR', 'ErRoR', or any other combination of mixed cases. ---
**Author:** ![kahuna](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/kahuna/32/541_2.png) [@kahuna](https://community.unix.com/u/kahuna)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 3:27pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-scan-a-file-for-literal-return-0-or-1-if-found/173749/10 "2007-07-31T15:27:54Z")
> [@matrixmadhan](#): > > No ! > the return value of grep command is directly equated to the value 0 > o - success pattern has been found > other value - pattern not found The code does not work as written. Please try to run it. The return value from grep will not be used in the if statement. Perhaps you meant to add a "-c"? ---
**Author:** ![matrixmadhan](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/matrixmadhan/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@matrixmadhan](https://community.unix.com/u/matrixmadhan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 2:32pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-scan-a-file-for-literal-return-0-or-1-if-found/173749/11 "2007-08-02T14:32:01Z")
I accept ! 🙂 ```nohighlight cat test2 pattern ``` ```nohighlight grep -i pattern test2 if [$? -eq 0] then echo "found" else echo "not found" fi ``` ```nohighlight if grep pattern test2 1>/dev/null 2>&1 then echo "found" else echo "not found" fi ``` based on success or failure of the grep command ---
**Author:** ![jim\_mcnamara](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/jim_mcnamara/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@jim\_mcnamara](https://community.unix.com/u/jim_mcnamara)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2007, 4:04pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-scan-a-file-for-literal-return-0-or-1-if-found/173749/12 "2007-08-02T16:04:56Z")
FWIW: use grep -q to suppress output: ```nohighlight grep -q 'some string' myfile ; echo $(( ! $? )) ``` will show 1 if found and 0 if not found - ksh and bash.