Programming Forums > Script Programming > Bash / Shell Scripting

dc6463 · Jun 10th, 2005, 8:49 AM

i need a script to copy all files containing a certain string (in the file) to a directory. any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks,

skuinders · Jun 10th, 2005, 9:50 AM

I'm on windows at work so I did this without being able to check it...

(Toggle Plain Text)

cp `grep -f *.txt -e stringpattern -l` the_dir

Riddle · Jun 10th, 2005, 1:52 PM

Assuming you're on *nix, though.

lol, and here's the help I forgot to add (if you're using Windows):

You can use the find command. Example, let's say that you're looking for the string lol!! in a file called lol.txt.

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find "lol!!" lol.txt

If it's in there once, it would return this.

find "lol!!" lol.txt

---------- LOL.TXT
"lol!!"

Unfortunately, I don't know if you can use a 'greater than' operator in batch files (if you could, you could use the /c switch to show you the count of lines containing it (example: 2)). If you can find a way to use the greater than operator, go for it.

Dizzutch · Jun 10th, 2005, 2:54 PM

I don't associate BASH/Shell scripting with Windows, but i think it would be a good idea to specify when posting threads in this forum in the future, unless we decide that BASH/Shell scripting also includes windows Batch

Riddle · Jun 10th, 2005, 8:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dizzutch

I don't associate BASH/Shell scripting with Windows, but i think it would be a good idea to specify when posting threads in this forum in the future, unless we decide that BASH/Shell scripting also includes windows Batch

Yeah, I don't associate the two either, but there have been posts about batch scripts in this section. I just decided I'd give the input.

Dizzutch · Jun 12th, 2005, 10:34 AM

right on, i'll talk to K to see if we can clear the confusion up.

dc6463 · Jun 13th, 2005, 3:55 AM

Sorry for not being more specific. I meant *nix.

Thanks for the help!

dc6463 · Jun 13th, 2005, 5:21 AM

when i try:

cp `grep -f *.txt -e string -l` tmp

i get this error:
cp: grep -f *.txt -e string -l: No such file or directory

Dizzutch · Jun 13th, 2005, 1:06 PM

back sure they're back hashes not just single appostraphes

dc6463 · Jun 14th, 2005, 12:06 PM

ok, my mistake. got it.

works great, but copying the files in OS X changes the date modified for the files.

any idea how to do this in with a windows batch file or even better with python?

thanks again for the help,

Jun 10th, 2005, 8:49 AM	#1
dc6463 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	script to copy files containing string i need a script to copy all files containing a certain string (in the file) to a directory. any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks,

Jun 10th, 2005, 9:50 AM	#2
skuinders Hobbyist Programmer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: MA, US Posts: 204 Rep Power: 4	I'm on windows at work so I did this without being able to check it... (Toggle Plain Text) cp `grep -f .txt -e stringpattern -l` the_dir cp `grep -f .txt -e stringpattern -l` the_dir __________________ "A stupid man's report of what a clever man says can never be accurate, because he unconciously translates what he hears into something he can understand." - B. Russell http://web.bryant.edu/~srk2

Jun 10th, 2005, 1:52 PM	#3
Riddle Programmer Join Date: May 2005 Location: Nar Shaddaa Posts: 42 Rep Power: 0	Assuming you're on nix, though. lol, and here's the help I forgot to add (if you're using Windows): You can use the find command. Example, let's say that you're looking for the string lol!!* in a file called lol.txt. (Toggle Plain Text) find "lol!!" lol.txt find "lol!!" lol.txt If it's in there once, it would return this. find "lol!!" lol.txt ---------- LOL.TXT "lol!!" Unfortunately, I don't know if you can use a 'greater than' operator in batch files (if you could, you could use the /c switch to show you the count of lines containing it (example: 2)). If you can find a way to use the greater than operator, go for it. Last edited by Riddle; Jun 10th, 2005 at 1:57 PM.

Jun 10th, 2005, 2:54 PM	#4
Dizzutch Professional Programmer Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Worcester, MA Posts: 441 Rep Power: 4	I don't associate BASH/Shell scripting with Windows, but i think it would be a good idea to specify when posting threads in this forum in the future, unless we decide that BASH/Shell scripting also includes windows Batch __________________ naked pictures of you \| PFO F@H stats

Jun 12th, 2005, 10:34 AM	#6
Dizzutch Professional Programmer Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Worcester, MA Posts: 441 Rep Power: 4	right on, i'll talk to K to see if we can clear the confusion up. __________________ naked pictures of you \| PFO F@H stats

Jun 13th, 2005, 3:55 AM	#7
dc6463 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	Sorry for not being more specific. I meant *nix. Thanks for the help!

Jun 13th, 2005, 5:21 AM	#8
dc6463 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	when i try: cp `grep -f .txt -e string -l` tmp i get this error: cp: grep -f .txt -e string -l: No such file or directory

Jun 13th, 2005, 1:06 PM	#9
Dizzutch Professional Programmer Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Worcester, MA Posts: 441 Rep Power: 4	back sure they're back hashes not just single appostraphes __________________ naked pictures of you \| PFO F@H stats

Jun 14th, 2005, 12:06 PM	#10
dc6463 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	ok, my mistake. got it. works great, but copying the files in OS X changes the date modified for the files. any idea how to do this in with a windows batch file or even better with python? thanks again for the help, Last edited by dc6463; Jun 14th, 2005 at 2:33 PM.

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Programming Forums > Script Programming > Bash / Shell Scripting

script to copy files containing string