Make Directories Using Variables From Array (in Bash)

Question

I'm trying to make directories using a variable in the directory name from a variables in an array, but it doesn't seem to concatenate the streams like I thought they would. I've tried a couple different ways.

I'm trying to get three directories named: test_6_bash_with_directory, test_8_bash_with_directory, test_10_bash_with_directory

variable=`seq 6 2 10`

for i in "${variable[@]}"
do
   :
   directory_name="./test_${i}_bash_with_directory"
   mkdir $directory_name
   echo $i
done

This gives me three directories test_6, 8 and 10_bash_with_directory. Replacing ${i} with ${variable} has the same result.

I'd also tried having the mkdir call in the same line as the directory concatenation:

mkdir "./test_${i}_bash_with_directory"

and I got one directory called test_6?8?10_bash_with_directory

So, how do I write this correctly? Thank you for replies!

larsks · Accepted Answer · 2020-11-10 23:33:29Z

4

Your problem is that variable is a string, not an array. You want:

variable=(`seq 6 2 10`)

for i in "${variable[@]}"
do
   directory_name="./test_${i}_bash_with_directory"
   mkdir $directory_name
   echo $i
done

Note the (...) around your sequence of values.

answered Nov 10, 2020 at 23:33

larsks

318k50 gold badges474 silver badges482 bronze badges

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

2 Comments

Léa Gris Over a year ago

Eventually, since it is Bash: variable=({6..10..2}) and mkdir -p -- "$directory_name". Well the bracket expression or the seq command could be replaced by its constants variable=(6 8 10).

S Usman Over a year ago

So the reason I wanted to use a range of variables is because I'm later hoping to run a program with a different parameter, and then make a directory with that parameter in the name for the output of that program, so I want to keep the range array if possible

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Make Directories Using Variables From Array (in Bash)

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related