nixCraft

z3cka · #1 (**permalink**) 08-25-2006, 11:35 PM

I have a situation in which i have many directories with one file in each of them. I would like to write a script that would go into each directory and copy the file in that directory one level up.

For example, i would like the *.txt files here:

/startingDirectory/
-->dirA/
------>fileA.txt
-->dirB/
------>fileB.txt

To be copied or moved to yeild:

/startingDirectory/
-->dirA/
-->dirB/
-->fileB.txt
-->fileA.txt

*** the *.txt files can be copied or moved i don't have a preference.

I would like to do this in a linux bash shell. The names of the files should be arbitrary to the scripts. It should be able to just move to each directory recursively.

Thank you in advance, please let me know if i was not specific enough.

nixcraft · #2 (**permalink**) 08-26-2006, 05:05 AM

You need to use while loop to read file system:

Code:

ls | while read t; do echo $t; done

If directory found inside this loop will go to that dir and scan for file. If there is only one file just copy it.

Code:

#!/bin/bash
dirtreeloop()
{

  ls $1 | while read file
  do
   if [ -d "$1/$file" ]; then # if it is dir
      echo "Entering $1/$file ..."
      dirtreeloop "$1/$file"
    else
      # see if only one file exists
       count=$(ls -l $1 | egrep -v  '\.|\.\.|^total' | wc -l)
       # if so copy it to upper dir
       [ $count -eq 1 ] && cp $1/$file .. || :
       count=0
    fi
  done
}
dirtreeloop "$1"

Save and run script as follows:

Code:

chmod +x script.sh
./script.sh .
./script.sh /path/to/dir

Test it and let me know..

z3cka · #3 (**permalink**) 08-26-2006, 09:30 AM

Thank you nixcraft, this is a good start.

first of all the script works!!! But, after about an hour of testing, i have came apon 2 problems that i think with a little tweeking we can solve.

1) i need the code to work with directories with spaces in the directory name.
2) the script copies the files to the target when there is 1 directory in the level it is on...

example:

in special_cp.jpg: fileA2.som and fileA.som will be copied to the target directory, while fileB.som and fileC.some are not copied. *dummyDir is empty by the way, don't think that matters though*

strange. We are close. I thank you for the quick response.

nixcraft · #4 (**permalink**) 08-27-2006, 10:54 AM

Quote:

1) i need the code to work with directories with spaces in the directory name.

Put $1 (i.e. dir name) into double quote so that shell recognize it as a single dir name with spaces here is a script:

Code:

#!/bin/bash
dirtreeloop()
{

  ls "$1" | while read file
  do
   if [ -d "$1/$file" ]; then # if it is dir
      echo "Entering $1/$file ..."
      dirtreeloop "$1/$file"
    else
      # see if only one file exists
       count=$(ls -l "$1" | egrep -v  '\.|\.\.|^total' | wc -l)
       # if so copy it to upper dir
       [ $count -eq 1 ] && echo cp $1/$file .. || :
       count=0
    fi
  done
}
dirtreeloop "$1"

Quote:

2) the script copies the files to the target when there is 1 directory in the level it is on...

I am sorry but I am not getting your point can you explain more...

z3cka · #5 (**permalink**) 08-27-2006, 03:29 PM

thanks for the fix to #1.

#2 is hard to explain, but i will try.

the script only copies the desired files when there is one directory in the same level of the desired files...

ie. in the example image of dirA. "dummyDir" exists in dirA therefore fileA.som and fileA2.som are copied to the target directory while fileB.som and fileC.som are skipped (and not copied) because they are do not have a directory on that level.

At least this is why i THINK that they arn't being copied, i could be wrong and there could be a different issue.

if this doesn't help, i will post a before and after script run tomorrow to help.

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