Loop through lines in file for input, then output files with unique names?

Question

I'm using a tool that converts file types, but only works on one file at a time. I've put the URLs to these files into a text file, which I want to loop through with bash. The command then outputs files, but I want each file to be named uniquely. For example, output file one should be named output1.pdf, two should be output2.pdf, etc.

Here's what I have so far:

for i in `cat input.txt`; do
    converttopdf $i output.pdf
done

But that will simply overwrite output.pdf over and over. How can I make it output a unique file each time?

converttopdf $i $i.pdf so you'd get test.txt.pdf as output? — Marc B
– Marc B, Commented Jan 12, 2012 at 1:49
@Marc: I would, but the URLs are quite long, and I don't want the whole thing to be output. — Alexis King
– Alexis King, Commented Jan 12, 2012 at 1:59

c00kiemon5ter · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-12 01:49:48Z

2

num=0
while read -r; do
    ((num++))
    converttopdf "$REPLY" "output_${num}.pdf"
done < file_with_urls

keep a counter, and place in the output filename

answered Jan 12, 2012 at 1:49

c00kiemon5ter

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Oliver Charlesworth · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-12 01:48:35Z

0

With a counter?

c=1
echo $c     # "1"
c=$(($c+1))
echo $c     # "2"

answered Jan 12, 2012 at 1:48

Oliver Charlesworth

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1 Comment

Alexis King Over a year ago

Can you explain how I can convert this to a usable file path? Can I just do converttopdf $i output$c.pdf? Or is there some way to place the variable inside the argument?

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