Dynamic patterns for the Case Statement in Shell Scripting -

the code below rough outline of trying do. don't worry code doing after each case evaluated.

my question in case *','* ) trying recognize dynamic pattern of files separated commas.

ex: getfile.sh -fileextension file1,file2,file3,file4 input. how go recognizing input $2(this equal var2) follows *','* pattern * represents file?

    if [ $flag -eq 1 ];             case $var2 in                 #lists files if option selected                 list | l | list | l | ls | ls)      stuff here                 | | | a)                  stuff here                 *','* )                             stuff here                 * )                                 stuff here             esac         fi 

i should add program supposed list set of files based on extension , allow user either files, or select mutliple (or single) file. because not know user going input i'm trying match pattern instead of static input.

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so here new code looks , closer i'm trying accomplish:

let's jsut concentrate on case not confused.

case $var2 in         #lists files if option selected         list | l | list | l | ls | ls)      ls -1 $directory*$extension                         exit                         ;;         #copy files in directory         | | | a)                           echo ">cleaning temp dir"                         allcheck=1                         cleantemp                            copy                         zip                         exit                         ;;         [0-9][0-9a-za-z] | [0-9]','[0-9a-za-z]) echo "this valid input"                         exit                         ;;         * )                                      echo ">>bad argument"                         #help                         exit 1                         #fi     esac 

this pattern i'm trying match

[0-9]','[0-9a-za-z] 

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i figured out after finding link gave me clue: how test if variable number in bash?

anyways here's ended with:

case $var2 in         #lists files if option selected         list | l | list | l | ls | ls)      ls -1 $directory*$extension                         exit                         ;;         #copy files in directory         | | | a)                           echo ">cleaning temp dir"                         allcheck=1                         cleantemp                            copy                         zip                         exit                         ;;         [0-9][0-9a-za-z] | [0-9][0-9a-za-z],[0-9][0-9a-za-z],*) echo "this valid input"                         exit                         ;;         * )                                      echo ">>bad argument"                         #help                         exit 1                         #fi     esac 

this test input such 56 or 5a [0-9][0-9a-za-z] test input separated comma such tryign accomplish. [0-9][0-9a-za-z],[0-9][0-9a-za-z],*

(i still have make sure invalid characters not entered, however, cut down on work have now.)

thanks trying 'the other guy'.

your code correctly matches values of var2 containing commas:

flag=1 var2="file1,file2,file3,file4" if [ $flag -eq 1 ];     case $var2 in         #lists files if option selected         list | l | list | l | ls | ls)      stuff here ;;         | | | a)                  stuff here ;;         *','* )                             echo "it works" ;;         * )                                 stuff here ;;     esac fi 

will print "it works".

if problem how separate comma separated list, can use

ifs="," file in $var2     echo "processing $file" done