problems with if/else

[cayalee]

Hi guys, just having a bit of trouble using the "if" command in a script.
i want a script that tests to see if a directory exists, and then if so, copy files from that directory to another drive. here's how i'm going about it, but it isn't working.
any ideas?

if test -d /usr/people/cranial
then
echo "found Synergy Cranial. Preparing to back up"
cp /usr/people/cranial/cranialData /mnt/usbdisk/cranialData
echo "done"
else
echo "synergy cranial not installed, skipping step"
fi

[devils casper]

Nothing is wrong in your code except cp command. If you are copying files then use wildcard. Use -r option for folder.
To copy files from cranialData to other :

cp /usr/people/cranial/cranialData/* /mnt/usbdisk/cranialData

If you want to copy cranialData folder to /mnt/usbstick :

cp -r /usr/people/cranial/cranialData /mnt/usbdisk

[cayalee]

thanks very much, i'll give this a try

[cayalee]

no joy i'm afraid. i just get an error message saying:
if: Expression Syntax

any ideas?

[devils casper]

I copied/paste your code ( changed folder_path only ) and its working fine here.

[signmem]

are you using bash env or csh env?
because in bash --> if then else fi
in csh --> if then else if


and try

#!/bin/bash
if [ -d /usr/people/cranial ]
then
echo "found Synergy Cranial. Preparing to back up"
cp -r /usr/people/cranial/cranialData /mnt/usbdisk/cranialData
echo "done"
else
echo "synergy cranial not installed, skipping step"
fi