Shell Script to check a file

UNIX for Beginners Q & A
1

I'm required to write a simple shell script that when it runs it writes the output which is a simple barcode to a tmp flat file which I can do the bit I'm struggling with...

The next time it runs I need to check the tmp output file to see if that barcode is in the output file and if it is send out an email alert
Any help gratefully received

2

Hi Worky,

What have you tried?

When you say "barcode" what exactly do you mean? If you want ti check the file exists then it's likely to be asimple shell test - checking the contents will be a bit more involved.

Regards

Gull04

3

Its just an 8 char barcode in a file XA123456 in a txt file

All I want to do is check if it already exists in that file and if it does sned out an email

--- Post updated at 10:24 AM ---

The file is called failed_list
and is a flat txt file containing barcode

X1234567
X2345678
X3456789

The next time the job runs and creates failed list if there is a re occurance of a barcode I want it to mail me using mailx

4

Hi,

Here is a code snippet, from a shell script you should be able to modify to suit quite easilly. But as you haven't shown me what you've tried or your code I can't be more precise.

### Adjust this for your environment
MAILLIST="<enter your mail address here multiple address saparated with comma(,)>"

EXIST=`grep ${BARCODE} ${TEMPFILE}`
if [ $EXIST = 0 ]
then
    echo "The Barcode ${BARCODE} already exists." >/tmp/outmail
    cat /tmp/outmail|mailx -s "Barcode Already Exists" $MAILLIST
else
    echo "New Barcode ${BARCODE} created." >/tmp/outmail
    cat /tmp/outmail|mailx -s "New Barcode Created." $MAILLIST
fi

Regards

Gull04

5

Thanks
This was what I had

cat failed_list | xargs -I{} grep -w {} failed_list_check > failed_alert


fail_check=`cat failed_alert | wc -l`
if [ $fail_check != 0 ]
then

echo 'cat failed_alert'
mailx -s
6

Do I get you right that the new bar code string is in a file called failed_list_check and should be tested for existence in a "history" file failed_list , and, if found, send a mail? If so, try

grep -qffailed_list_check failed_list && mailx -s"something" "$MAILTO" < failed_list_check