create file shell script

Question

I am new to shell scripting in Linux and I am trying to take data from the keyboard and then append the data passed in to a file. Pretty straight forward but I am getting an error when I try to create the file. The error says "you do not have permission to create this file".

I first do a check to make sure the file exists. If it exists, append to the end of the file. If not, create the file. What am I doing wrong?

Thank you!

P.S. In this case, I do not have the file created yet

#!/bin/sh                                                                                                                            

echo "Please enter your first name";
read first
echo "Please enter your last name";
read last

combine=":$first $last"
file="/testFile.dat"

if [ -f "$file" ]
then
echo "$file found."
echo $combine >> $file
else
echo "$file not found. Will create the file and add entry now."
touch $file
$combine >> $file
fi

Sounds like your problem is you do not have permission to create this file. Linux file systems do not let arbitrary users read or write to arbitrary locations. Try changing file="/testFile.dat" to file="~/testFile.dat", which will put the file in your home dir. — phs
– phs, Commented Mar 24, 2013 at 22:05

Tuxdude · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-24 22:06:21Z

3

You're trying to write to the file /testFile.dat which is located in the root directory /. It is highly likely that as a regular user you would not have write permissions for creating such a file.

But what you wanted I'm guessing is to create the testfile.dat in the current directory.

Replace the following line:

file="/testFile.dat"

with:

file="./testFile.dat"

answered Mar 24, 2013 at 22:06

Tuxdude

50k15 gold badges111 silver badges112 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Teddy13 Over a year ago

That makes sense. What a silly mistake on my part :) Thank you! Will accept

Captain Giraffe · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-24 22:05:20Z

3

You are creating the file at the root. Try file="~/testFile.dat" to create the file in your home or just file="./testFile.dat" to create it in the current directory.

answered Mar 24, 2013 at 22:05

Captain Giraffe

14.8k7 gold badges42 silver badges69 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

create file shell script

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related