How do I save a script output to a text file with iterating filename?

Question

I'm new in bash scripting. I have two questions:

Is it possible to save a script output to a text file with a unique file name every time i run the script?
Can I put all of these (the command that will generate the output of the script, the looping of file name and the command saving the iterating file name to a text file) in one script?

You want iterating filenames like 1, 2, 3, ... or just unique like awelg, wlekr, zxli? – You want to loop (overwrite older files) or not? — Robert Siemer
– Robert Siemer, Commented Jan 8, 2014 at 2:31
Iterating filenames like filename(1), filename(2) etc. I don't want to overwrite older files. Thank you! — endlesslearning
– endlesslearning, Commented Jan 8, 2014 at 2:38

Robert Siemer · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-28 13:44:36Z

2

1. Is it possible to save a script output to a text file with a unique file name every time i run the script?

Yes.

2. Can I put all of these (the command that will generate the output of the script, the looping of file name and the command saving the iterating file name to a text file) in one script?

Yes.

This script for example does that:

#!/bin/sh

COUNTER=1
while true; do
  FILENAME="filename($COUNTER)"
  if [ -e $FILENAME ]; then
    COUNTER=$(($COUNTER+1))
  else
    break
  fi
done

your_command > $FILENAME

edited Apr 28, 2014 at 13:44

answered Jan 8, 2014 at 2:34

Robert Siemer

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1 Comment

endlesslearning Over a year ago

Sorry about that. I tried your answer and it worked just how I wanted it. Thank you, sir! I accepted your answer. :)

Andy Jones · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-08 03:02:13Z

2

(1) Absolutely! You just need a way to generate a unique filename. There are several ways to do this...

# way 1 - use the bash variable $RANDOM
$ export MYFILE=outputfile_$RANDOM
# way 2 - use date (unique to every second)
$ export MYFILE=outputfile_`date +%Y%m%d%H%M%S`
# way 3 - use mktemp
$ export MYFILE=`mktemp outputfile_XXXXXXXX`

$ ./myscript > $MYFILE

(2) Sure!

Starting your script with this line - I'll pretend this file is called commands.sh

#!/bin/bash

Then set the execute permission for the file

$ chmod 750 commands.sh 
# you can now run this file using...
$ ./commands.sh

(3) Want incrementing numbers on temporary files? (Be careful about the smooth parens, then need to be escaped properly using the backslash "\")

$ export I=1
$ while [ -f filename\($I\) ]; do export $I=`expr $I + 1`; done
$ ./myscript.sh > filename\($I\)

edited Jan 8, 2014 at 3:02

answered Jan 8, 2014 at 2:36

Andy Jones

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3 Comments

endlesslearning Over a year ago

Thank you, sir! I tried the mktemp and it worked. If I want to use the mktemp and want the filename to have something like (1),(2),(3), what should I do? I want my files to be named like this: filename(1), filename(2).

endlesslearning Over a year ago

It works but I think I'll have to go with the other answer. I wish I could upvote you or something but I dont have that privilege yet :( Thank you and I really appreciate it.

Andy Jones Over a year ago

@endlesslearning merry christmas, you can upvote now :) (anonymous vote elf)

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