Parameter expansion?

[RobbH]

I've been through my "Linux for Totally Hopeless Idiots" book, and I've searched online guides. But I can't find the answer to this simple question.

I've got a sequence of commands I'd like to use frequently, something like this:

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grep -i searchstring list.txt > grepout.txt && geany grepout.txt

The searchstring will change, but everything else remains the same. What I'd like to do is create an alias or a script. I'd like to call the alias/script by name, adding the searchstring as an argument. Like this:

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finditnow searchstring

How do I do this? I'm sure the answer must be staring me in the face. This is the sort of thing I used to do all the time in DOS and 4DOS, and I still use some of those 4DOS aliases, somehting like this:

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grep -i %1 list.txt > grepout.txt && geany grepout.txt

The answer has so far eluded me. Anyone willing to rescue me?

[Gn2]

Make Google your ally Esp for Generic Linux queries !

Seems like what you want is to PIPE (redirect) the search string results to another tool.

You could use the pipe (|) symbol, <-(upper-case key over " \") the cat command or redirection symbol {>)

http://intro.mainstreamlinux.com/sect_05_01.html
To use aliased commands, place in (dot) .bashrc file (under user or root home folder)

To use aliased command immediately without re-booting,

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source ~/.bashrc

See also use of command separators, else the last performed terminates the parsed string sequence, exits.

Please see also use of interactive shell (consult on-line)
Google for downloadable BASH MANUAL
For advanced search, parsing, srting manipulations &/or redirecting > see GAWK < & > SED manuals

MORE LINUX

HTH

[MU]

mygrep

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#!/bin/bash

# usage: mygrep searchstring

grep -i "$@" list.txt > /tmp/grepout.txt && geany /tmp/grepout.txt

Mark

[RobbH]

grep -i "$@" list.txt > /tmp/grepout.txt && geany /tmp/grepout.txt

Thank you, Mark! Exactly what I was looking for.

[RobbH]

Incidentally, I appreciate Mark's willingness to help, even though my question was apparently off-topic. I did spend some time searching for the answer, both in printed reference materials and online, before asking my question here. I admit that it did not occur to me that the question might be off-topic in the newbies' forum, but I now see that statement in another thread:

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 3909#93909

Like many newbies, there are times when I do not know enough about a subject to ask a question intelligently, and sometimes I can't formulate an effective search string, either. In this case, even now that I have Mark's very helpful answer, I haven't been able to find any additional useful information on the subject online. I do find many copies of essentially the same text on shell parameter expansion, which reads like a man page and at this point is not comprehensible to me.

So, where should newbies go with basic, generic questions about Linux, not specific to Puppy, when we have exhausted our ability to search out an answer?

[Pizzasgood]

I'd say the "Users" topic. That's what I do, anyways.

[Gn2]

when we have exhausted our ability to search out an answer?

That has been addressed many times - GOOGLE
Now I know how that sounds -in text & Esp when no facial clues are evident - but really - isn't it more of:

Examples abound - In these forum headers, are many URL's to resources.
A very comprehensive example was supplied in above -
The WEB is so full - how can anyone run out of ideas ?
(If anything, the choices are overwhelming)

Yes I fully realize & can share learning pains to what may seem (at first glance) like @!!## Greek Esp if a new_to_linux user -
But please consider, which will be Far More Reliable

Isn't it more a matter - of users patience & willingness that determines results ?
We have all been there - NOBODY is a "so-called expert" !
Only different temporary experience levels in any given time frame.

It was best expressed:

~ It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer.
~ Problems cannot be solved by the same level of understanding that created them
= It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
~ Albert Einstein

When REALLY exasperated - I find some comfort in

I think the next best thing to solving a problem is finding some humor in it.
Frank A. Clark