Using a while/for loop with the 'find' command to copy files and directories

Question

I have the follwoing problem: I want to make a script that backups a certain directory completely to another directory. I may not use cp -r or any other recursive command. So I was thinking of using a while or for loop. The directory that needs to be back upped is given with a parameter. This is what I have so far:

OIFS="$IFS"
IFS=$'\n'

for file in `find $1`
do
  cp $file $HOME/TestDirectory
done

IFS="$OIFS"

But when I execute it, this is what my terminal says: Script started, file is typescript

I'd use `find` with `-exec` parameter or `find -print0` with the `xargs -0` command instead of for or loops. — KurzedMetal, Dec 19 '12 at 18:46
That was my first idea as well, but I'm not allowed to use that. — Mavix, Dec 19 '12 at 18:49
Why are you not allowed to use `-exec` or `-print0` and `xargs`? — Andy Lester, Dec 19 '12 at 20:02

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 19 '12 at 19:10

1

Try this:

find "$1" -type f -print0 | xargs -0 cp -t $HOME/TestDirectory

Don't run your script through script !

Add this (shebang) at top of file:

#!/bin/bash

find "$1" -type f -print0 | xargs -0 cp -t $HOME/TestDirectory

change permission of your script for adding executable flag:

chmod +x myScript

run your script localy whith arguments:

./myScript rootDirectoryWhereSearchForFiles

answered Dec 19 '12 at 19:10

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Thanks! And I now know why my terminal said "file is script". That was because I named the script "script". – Mavix Dec 19 '12 at 19:18

Using a while/for loop with the 'find' command to copy files and directories

1 Answers1