Question

Unix, how to read first line in file and store in a variable

Asked by: bunker1234

Hi Experts,
I am new to Unix.  In shell script, just trying to read first line of a  file, and store it in a variable.
 set temp =  `head -1  /test/temp.txt`
 echo $temp

But it is not working.  head -1  /test/temp.txt  works, but echo $temp does not print anything.

 WIll appreciate your help.
Thanks

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Asked On
2009-04-24 at 14:26:43ID24354013
Tags

Unix

,

how to read first line in file and store in a variable

Topics

Bourne Shell (sh)

,

IBM AIX Unix

,

KornShell (ksh)

Participating Experts
4
Points
500
Comments
8

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Answers

 

by: omarfaridPosted on 2009-04-24 at 14:36:27ID: 24229476

try

temp ="`head -1  /test/temp.txt`"
echo $temp

 

by: Manoj_aPosted on 2009-04-24 at 14:37:01ID: 24229486

Just remove the set in your second line and try..

 

by: woolmilkporcPosted on 2009-04-24 at 14:37:32ID: 24229489

Hi,

temp=$(head -1 /test/temp.txt)

echo $temp

The clue is not to put spaces around the equal ( = ) sign.

The $( ) notation is equivalent to the backtick ``notation, but is POSIX compliant and far better readable.


wmp

 

by: rfportillaPosted on 2009-04-24 at 14:45:55ID: 24229556

I second that, Woolmilkporc.

 

by: bunker1234Posted on 2009-04-24 at 15:12:58ID: 24229756

Hi Experts,
Thanks so much for answering so quickly, I really appreciate it.   I wasted so many hours before posting this question on experts exchange.  Special thanks to woolmilkporc for the clue (clue  is not to put spaces around the equal ( = ) sign).  I think that was my problem.  I had already tried several ways( with set, without  set etc), but always with spaces so it did not work

Thanks again,
bunker1234

 

by: omarfaridPosted on 2009-04-24 at 15:27:52ID: 24229841

I think this what was shown in my posting :)

 

by: woolmilkporcPosted on 2009-04-24 at 15:43:58ID: 24229910

Really? :-)

 

by: bunker1234Posted on 2009-04-24 at 19:06:59ID: 24230529

Hi omarfarid,
You were the first one to post the answer.  But, without the 'no space clue' ,  I would not have noticed the space/nospace differenence.

By the way, your answer has space in it  :)
temp ="`head -1  /test/temp.txt`".  

Thanks
bunker1234

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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