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Accepted
Mark Lee
Asked: 2021-06-07 18:40:14 +0800 CST

How do I get a bash script file to request a prompt before continuing to the next step?

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I have a one line script to create a file in a directory and open the file with Kwrite. I'd like the script to prompt for the file name to be created and to be opened by Kwrite. At present it doesn't even open the terminal but ideally it should. How do I achieve this with the following script?:

cat > file.php & kwrite file.php

My intention is to paste copied portions of one file to create a new file.

bash

1 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    Option 1: Using a bash script parameter

    Create the script like so:

    #!/bin/bash
( echo something > "$1".php && kwrite "$1".php ) &
clear

    Then, you can call the script passing the file name after the command. The script will then automatically create the file with the content you wish, adding the .php extension automatically, and open the file in kwrite, while releasing the terminal prompt for you to enter a following command.

    $1 in the script is a variable that automatically retrieves the next word on the command line. e.g. if the script is called phpfile, then the command

    phpfile myfile

    will create and open the file myfile.php.

    Option 2. Using the read command

    The read command allows to prompt the user for input at the command line.

    #!/bin/bash
echo "Please enter filename: "
read FILENAME
echo something > "$FILENAME".php && nohup kwrite "$FILENAME".php &
clear

    nohup may be useful if you are working from the terminal. It detaches the editor from the terminal processes, so it will not be closed if you close the terminal.

    Option 3. Using a graphical tool

    Zenity, installed by default in Ubuntu, or Kdialog on the Plasma desktop, allow you to prompt the user for input in a graphical dialog for use in scripts. You invoke these tools in a script. The user input then is placed in a variable. Advantage here is that then you could assign the script to a shortcut key. Then you could summon it with a single keypress to have the Zenity dialog pop up and have the script do its work.

    #!/bin/bash
FILENAME=$(zenity --entry --title "Name request" --text "Please enter file name:")
echo something > "$FILENAME".php && nohup kwrite "$FILENAME".php &
clear
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