read file from user input in bash and store in variable

Question

Team,

looks simple but am unable to catch it. Am trying to read a file from user and store its contents into variable. My echo is working as its printing the file but my cat is not working.

read -p "specify the file to read nodes from: " file
echo $file

file_contents=$(cat $file | awk -F ',' '{print $1}')

for item in $file_contents
do
echo $item
done;

output

$HOME\backup\file.log

no such file
cat $HOME\backup\file.log

expected output

\home\users\backup\file.log

item1
item2
item3

I figured out the issue.. I cannot input the filepath as $HOME.. its not expanding it. when i enter absolute path its working. — AhmFM
– AhmFM, Commented May 6, 2020 at 17:42
You shouldn't be using for there, BTW. See mywiki.wooledge.org/BashFAQ/001 — Shawn
– Shawn, Commented May 6, 2020 at 21:08

AhmFM · Accepted Answer · 2020-05-06 17:43:22Z

1

The file with should be entered with absolute path and not $HOME.

so providing whole file path worked for me.

if there is a way I can use $HOME. Please advise.

answered May 6, 2020 at 17:43

AhmFM

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