Implementing Directory Management Using Shell Script

Implementation

We can execute the below script to implement the directory management functions using the Linux commands.

#!/bin/sh 

# stores the value input by the user. So that user has the ability to navigate 

choice=0   

# between different options

while [ $choice -lt 4 ] # if user inputs any number greater than 3 we’ll exit.

do

    clear # clears the console

    echo "***** Directory Management *****"

    echo " "

    echo "Select one option: "

    echo "1. Modification."

    echo "2. Listing."

    echo "3. Exit."

    read choice # user input

    case $choice in 

    1)

        clear

        echo "****** Modification menu ******"

        echo ""

        echo "Select one option: "

        echo "1. Create."

        echo "2. Delete."

        echo "3. Rename."

        echo "4. Move."

        echo "5. Copy."

        echo "6. Exit from current mode..."

        read mdChoice

        case $mdChoice in

        1) echo ""

            echo "Name for new Directory: " 

            #Stores new directory name

            read dirName 

            #To create new directory with the name specified by the user

            mkdir $dirName 

        ;;

        2) echo ""

            echo "Enter name of directory to delete: "

            #gets name of the directory which need to be deleted

            read dirName 

            #delete directory

            rmdir $dirName 

        ;;

        3) echo ""

            echo "Enter name of old directory: " 

            #gets old directory name from user

            read oldDirName 

            echo "Enter new name: "

            #new directory name

            read newDirName 

            mv $oldDirName $newDirName #rename old directory with the new name given by user

        ;;

        4) echo ""

            echo "Enter name of directory to move: " 

            read dirName

            echo "Enter target: "

            read target

            # create new directory

            mkdir $target 

            #moves the directory to above created folder.

            mv $dirName $target 

        ;;

        5) echo ""

            echo "Enter name of directory to copy: " 

            read dirName

            echo "Enter target: "

            read target

            # create new directory

            mkdir $target 

            #copies the directory to above created folder.

            cp $dirName $target 

        ;;

        6) echo "Exiting from modification mode..."

            # don’t do anything if user selects this option

        ;;

        esac

    ;;

    2) clear

        echo ""

        echo "****** Listing menu ******"

        echo "Select one option: " 

        echo "1. List directories"

        echo "2. List directories with details."

        echo "3. Exit."

        read lsChoice

        case $lsChoice in

        1) echo ""

        #list all directories in the current path

        ls

        echo "Press Enter to continue.."

        # Waits for user to press enter

        read wait 

        ;;

        2) echo ""

            #list all directories with additional information

            ls -la 

            echo "Press Enter to continue.."

            read wait

        ;;

        3) echo ""

            echo "Exiting..."  

        ;;

        esac

    ;;

    3) echo "Exiting..."

        exit

    ;;

    esac

done

Output

It is the first screen that appears when the script is executed.

User can select different options from the list.

The above screen will appear if user selects option 1 (Modification)

This screen will appear if the user selects the option2 (listing)

Users can interact with different options and when the user is done interacting

They can choose the last option (Exit) which will take the user back to the main menu

You need to execute the scripts with the help of output screenshots.

Let us now see some of the frequently asked questions.

Must Read Evolution of Operating System

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the extension in which the scripts are stored?

The scripts are stored in the .sh extension.

Name some of the directory management functions.

Some of the functions are listed below:
Navigation
Modification
Creating

Are there any disadvantages of using shell scripts?

The disadvantages of using shell scripts are given below:
Slower the execution of commands
Vulnerability to errors increases.

Let us now summarize this blog.

Conclusion

In This article, we discussed what a shell is, what a script is, and what shell scripting is in the Linux environment. It was then followed by discussing some of the advantages of shell scripting and its implementation. Then we learned about the directory management functions, and we also saw how with the help of shell scripts, we could implement directory management functions in the Linux environment. To better understand, we also attached outputs of the scripts when We executed them.

Recommended Reading:

• Single User Operating System
• Thrashing in OS
• Structure of Directory
• File Allocation Methods
• File Access Methods
• Secondary Memory
• Free Space Management
• Disk Management in Operating System

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