generating unique file names (bash)

[Shoq]

I am doing a simple backup Bash script that creates a backup archive of a folder (or file) I am working on. I want to have snapshaps all saved to one directory. To ensure unique name, I am currently appending the date and time to "MyArcName_data_time." But this creates a long and ugly name. I'd like either something cleaner like a unique number appended (based on total files in directory), or some random temp filename generator function that I don't yet know about.

The count would be sufficient, as each folder will always hold ONLY these archives, and no hidden files.

Thus, my directory would be:

myArcName_1.tar.gz
myArcName_2.tar.gz
myArcName_3.tar.gz
...

iF there's some bash function for this, groovy. If not, i just need to know how to count the directories from inside my script.

Thanks in advance

[cfajohnson]

I am doing a simple backup Bash script that creates a backup archive of a folder (or file) I am working on. I want to have snapshaps all saved to one directory. To ensure unique name, I am currently appending the date and time to "MyArcName_data_time." But this creates a long and ugly name. I'd like either something cleaner like a unique number appended (based on total files in directory), or some random temp filename generator function that I don't yet know about.

The count would be sufficient, as each folder will always hold ONLY these archives, and no hidden files.

Thus, my directory would be:

myArcName_1.tar.gz
myArcName_2.tar.gz
myArcName_3.tar.gz
...

iF there's some bash function for this, groovy. If not, i just need to know how to count the directories from inside my script.

n=
name=whatever
tarfile=$name.tgz
while [ -f "$tarfile" ]
do
  n=$(( ${n:=0} + 1 ))
  tarfile=$name-$n.tgz
done

[Shoq]

Doh!

Now why didn't that occur to me. Burn out is an ugly thing. Thanks!

[Lakshmipathi]

I think you could also use....mktemp(thanks to coderoot )
man mktemp
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...ile-names.html