making error checks in bash

[jwmw1023]

hi, Im trying to check for empty boxes with dialog and bash, and it seems to error even if there is input. I don't know if these are the correct params or if im just missing something. this is a small section (the section i cant figure out) of a much larger script so bear with me please

elif [ $R = "8" ]; then
dialog --no-shadow \
   --backtitle "Bugspray V1.7 Alpha Experimental" \
   --title "Where?" \
   --inputbox "where is the file? (eg. sda1, etc)" 8 40 \
   2>/tmp/dialog1.ans
if [ $? = 1 ]; then
dialog --no-shadow \
   --backtitle "Bugspray V1.7 Alpha Experimental" \
   --title "oops!" \
   --msgbox "You need to specify a location" 25 78
#/run/backtrack  #real command
/home/kainalu/Desktop/backtrack  #for now
exit 0
else
dialog --no-shadow \
   --backtitle "Bugspray V1.7 Alpha Experimental" \
   --title "Name?" \
   --inputbox "What is the name?" 8 40 \
   2>/tmp/dialog2.ans
fi
if [ $? = 1 ]; then
dialog --no-shadow \
   --backtitle "Bugspray V1.7 Alpha Experimental" \
   --title "oops!" \
   --msgbox "You need to specify a name" 25 78


#/run/backtrack  #real command
/home/kainalu/Desktop/backtrack  #for now
exit 0
else
what="`cat /tmp/dialog2.ans`"
where="`cat /tmp/dialog1.ans`"
#find /mnt/$where -iname "$what" -exec rm -rvf {} \; >> /tmp/dialog3.ans   #real command
find $where -iname "$what" -exec rm -rvf {} \; >> /tmp/dialog3.ans

dialog --no-shadow \
   --backtitle "Bugspray V1.7 Alpha Experimental" \
   --title "Done!" \
   --textbox /tmp/dialog3.ans 25 78
rm -f /tmp/dialog1.ans
rm -f /tmp/dialog2.ans
rm -f /tmp/dialog3.ans
fi

backtrack is to go to the beginning of the script. it just calls the main script and terminates. (i dont know how to do that internally either)

[bigtomrodney]

Two quick things that stand out -
You have started in the middle of an if test (elif).

You can call the script easily from within itself. A script can reference itself using the $0 variable. I'll try to have a better look tomorrow, just going offline now.

[jwmw1023]

yes, its a 17k script, this is just the "broke part" thanks for the tip on the $0!!

also how do you tell a script to hold off executing anything else for awhile? i have this part later in the script that is supposed to show Midnight Commander but it just blinks the screen and hoes back to the main menu

elif [ $R = "19" ]; then # display Midnight Commander
clear
mc

i need the script to hold off until mc exits.


nevermind, found THIS mistake

elif [ $R = "19" ]; then

should be:
elif [ $R = "18" ]; then

stoopit mistake. still need help with the first post though