How to check if a file is an ascii text file - BASH SCRIPT

Question

I have a Bash script that runs 3 commands. The last file is called "junk1.txt" which I am worrying about. I want to make an addition to the check the if statement performs. If the "junk1.txt" is an ASCII text file. How would I go about doing this?

./command1 > command1.txt

while read l;

do
    command2 > command2.txt

    while read m;

        do

            command3 junk.txt > junk1.txt 2>/tmp/err
            if [ -s /tmp/err ] #I WANT TO ADD ANOTHER CONDITION HERE
            then
                echo "not cracked"
            else
                echo "cracked"
                exit
            fi
        done < command2.txt

done < command1.txt

You can't check if it is. You can only check if it could be or could not be. It is whatever the author chose. — Tom Blodget
– Tom Blodget, Commented Sep 25, 2018 at 13:40

kenlukas · Accepted Answer · 2018-09-25 02:03:46Z

2

You can use file to test this:

For your use case replace your if [ -s /tmp/err ] line with:

if [ -s /tmp/err ] && [ "$(file junk1.txt)" = "junk1.txt: ASCII text" ]

answered Sep 25, 2018 at 2:03

kenlukas

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Ipor Sircer · Accepted Answer · 2018-09-25 01:58:11Z

1

Use strings command:

if diff <(strings ascii.txt) ascii.txt; then ...

answered Sep 25, 2018 at 1:58

Ipor Sircer

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