bash script question, how do I create multiple directories on one line

Benedict_White · 2008-04-26 16:03:22

I am making a package for amavisd-new (yes I am aware that there is one in community but I can't say I like the way it is done).

I have an install script from which I want to create multiple directories if they do not exist.

So I want to create a directory /var/spool/amavis with subdirectories of var tmp virusmails spammassassin .

I can't seem to be able to find a way to do this on one line.

chimeric · 2008-04-26 16:09:29

Hi,

the following should work:

% mkdir -p /var/spool/avamis/{virusmails,spammassassin}

or if you need to set certain permissions (see install --help for more information):

% install -d /var/spool/avamis/virusmails /var/spool/avamis/spammassassin

Last edited by chimeric (2008-04-26 16:13:18)

Spider.007 · 2008-04-26 16:10:40

mkdir supports multiple directories? If you are using bash you might use this better readable syntax: mkdir -p /var/spool/amavis/{var,tmp,virusmails,spamassassin}

peets · 2008-04-27 00:32:11

If you're not using bash you can always use a for loop, does that count as one line?

for dir in var tmp virusmails spamassassin; do mkdir "/var/spool/amavis/$dir"; done

Spider.007 · 2008-04-27 08:41:02

Why would you use a loop when, like I posted, mkdir supportes multiple directories?

mkdir -p  /var/spool/avamis/var /var/spool/avamis/tmp /var/spool/avamis/virusmails /var/spool/avamis/spammassassin

peets · 2008-04-27 20:29:24

Hehe because it's less typing!

pelle.k · 2008-04-27 22:05:18

peets wrote:

Hehe because it's less typing!

Good one!
Also, it's by far the more dynamic method.

tam1138 · 2008-04-27 22:41:40

pelle.k wrote:

peets wrote:
Hehe because it's less typing!
Good one!
Also, it's by far the more dynamic method.

If you want to get pedantic, it's also far less efficient in terms of execution time: each iteration of the loop forks a new process, whereas using a single mkdir command forks only once. The "best" way is the curly-braces method demonstrated above by chimeric.

Arch Linux

#1 2008-04-26 16:03:22

bash script question, how do I create multiple directories on one line

#2 2008-04-26 16:09:29

Re: bash script question, how do I create multiple directories on one line

#3 2008-04-26 16:10:40

Re: bash script question, how do I create multiple directories on one line

#4 2008-04-27 00:32:11

Re: bash script question, how do I create multiple directories on one line

#5 2008-04-27 08:41:02

Re: bash script question, how do I create multiple directories on one line

#6 2008-04-27 20:29:24

Re: bash script question, how do I create multiple directories on one line

#7 2008-04-27 22:05:18

Re: bash script question, how do I create multiple directories on one line

#8 2008-04-27 22:41:40

Re: bash script question, how do I create multiple directories on one line

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