[Question] How to find files with partial name

[JRummy16]

I am fairly new to linux but I want to write a function to find any file with only a partial name. I can only use sh shell and busybox applets for this.

I could do something like the sad code below...

TEST_ONE=$(find /path/to/directory -name *$1*)
TEST_TWO=$(find /path/to/directory -name $1*)
TEST_THREE=$(find /path/to/directory -name *$1)
TEST_FOUR=$(find /path/to/directory -name $1)  # incase the full name is given

if [ ! -z $TEST_ONE ]; then
    YAY_I_FOUND_THE_FILE=$TEST_ONE
elif [ ! -z $TEST_TWO ]; then
    YAY_I_FOUND_THE_FILE=$TEST_TWO
elif [ ! -z $TEST_THREE ]; then
    YAY_I_FOUND_THE_FILE=$TEST_THREE
elif [ ! -z $TEST_FOUR ]; then
   YAY_I_FOUND_THE_FILE=$TEST_FOUR
else
   echo "coudln't find the file"
fi

I just made that up but obviously it is pretty bad I'm sure there is a much better way to do it but I just can't think of a way. I also would like to have the file found even if capital letters are used and the file is all lower case.

[JRummy16]

hmmm... got it down way better with

ls /path/to/directory | grep -i partial_file_name

If someone still knows a better way it would still be helpful

[Cabhan]

First of all, the "*foo*" pattern is called a shell glob. In a glob, the * means "0 or more characters", so you don't need four different patterns in your first script: just one of "*$1*" will do everything.

In any case, your first attempt was closer, I think. I would do it like this:

find /path/to/dir -iname '*'"$1"'*'

The "-iname" flag stands for "case-insensitive name". There is some bizarre quoting with the "*$1*" pattern because you want it to get passed to find, and not be executed by the shell.

Anyway, this will find a file that matches your pattern in the given directory OR ANY SUBDIRECTORY. If this is not want you want, you can add the "-maxdepth 1" flag, which will only look in the given directory.