BASH shell script to quickly create and populate new test files

Question

# for i in {1..5} do echo "New File $i" > file$i done
-bash: syntax error near unexpected token `>'

I tried the above single line script which failed with the error above. I'm trying to automate the process of typing:

echo "New File" > file1  
echo "New File" > file2  
echo "New File" > file3  
echo "New File" > file4  
echo "New File" > file5

I'm trying to do this without creating a script file such as below which works:

#!/usr/bin/env bash                                                                                                                                                                                       
for i in {1..5} 
  do  
    echo "New File $i" > file$i 
  done

This script works but I want to be able to do something like this on a single line from the command line.

I understand the problem has something to do with the redirection > to the file. I tried escaping the > redirection a few other things, and googling but I didn't come up with something which worked.

The reason I want to be able to do this in a single line on the cli is because I want to be able to keep changing the numbers and contents of files for testing and I'd prefer to just do it on the command line rather than editing a script file.

Update 1

I tried the command separators as suggested and got the error below:

# for i in {1..5} do ; echo "New File $i" > file$i ; done
-bash: syntax error near unexpected token `echo'

Update 2

I did the command separators incorrectly above in Update 1. Done with the command separators as they are in the answer below worked like a charm.

Please format your code properly (indent every code line by 4 spaces). This will make your question easier to read and understand and improve your chances of getting a decent answer. — mpenkov
– mpenkov, Commented Nov 24, 2010 at 5:19

John Kugelman · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-24 05:44:03Z

7

You need either a semi-colon or a new line before the do and before the done. You do not need one after the do, although it doesn't hurt.

Single line

for i in {1..5}; do echo "New File $i" > file$i; done
               ^                               ^

Multiple lines

for i in {1..5}
do
    echo "New File $i" > file$i
done

for i in {1..5}; do
    echo "New File $i" > file$i
done

edited Nov 24, 2010 at 5:44

answered Nov 24, 2010 at 5:37

John Kugelman

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1 Comment

Dennis Williamson Over a year ago

"...although it doesn't hurt": I get an error message if I put an extra semicolon after the do (for a in b; do; echo; done: "-bash: syntax error near unexpected token ';'")

paxdiablo · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-24 05:39:59Z

2

The following works for me, all you needed to do to your update 1 was to insert a command separator between the for and the do:

for i in {1..5} ; do echo "New File $i" >file$i ; done

answered Nov 24, 2010 at 5:39

paxdiablo

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