bash loop processing all files in a directory

Question

I have this script

$AIRLINECODE=xx
for i in $AIRLINECODE_response_*; do
  echo $i
done

prints all the files in the directory even if they have a completely different name..

what can i do to limit the for to find only the files that have the wished pattern?

fedorqui · Accepted Answer · 2014-03-13 12:14:24Z

2

This is because of how you are using the variable name.

When you use $AIRLINECODE_response_, bash interprets it as AIRLINECODE_response_ being the name of the variable. To make it work, use curly braces to specify what is the name: {AIRLINECODE}_response_.

All together:

AIRLINECODE=xx
for i in ${AIRLINECODE}_response_*; do
  echo "$i"
done

Also, note that you need to set the variable with AIRLINECODE=xx. It is wrong to use $AIRLINECODE=xx, because the variables are being set without the leading $.

edited Mar 13, 2014 at 12:14

answered Mar 13, 2014 at 11:47

fedorqui

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3 Comments

hostmaster Over a year ago

echo "$i" would be better a bit

fedorqui Over a year ago

I agree! And in general, I recommend it whenever I can, just now I forgot it :)

user1666959 Over a year ago

It would be even better to use find (and limit the search to the current directory) and xargs because if you have enough files in the directory ${AIRLINECODE}_response_* is going to fail.

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