CODEWITHSUNDEEP
perlcommand-linewildcard
Ueffes
Ueffes

Reputation: 164

Perl open file from command line with wildcard

I am executing my script this way:

./script.pl -f files*

I looked at some other threads (like How can I open a file in Perl using a wildcard in the directory name?)

If i hard code the file name like it is written in this thread I get my desired result. If I take it from the command line it does not.

My options subroutine should save all the files I get this way in an array. 

my @file;
sub Options{
  my $i=0;
  foreach my $opt (@ARGV){
    switch ($opt){
      case "-f" {
        $i++;

        ### This part does not work:
        @file= glob $ARGV[$i];
        print Dumper("$ARGV[$i]");   #$VAR1 = 'files'; 
        print Dumper(@file);   #$VAR1 = 'files'; 
      }
    }
    $i++;
  }
}

It seems the execution is interpreted in advance and the wildcard (*) is dropped in the process.

Desired result: All files beginning with files are saved in an array, after execution from the command line.

I hope you get my problem. If not feel free to ask.

Thank you.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 1067

Answers (2)

simbabque
simbabque

Reputation: 54381

Since your shell is already expanding the glob files* into a list of filenames, that's what the Perl program gets.

$ perl -E 'say @ARGV' files*
files1files2files3

There's no need to do that in Perl, if your shell can do it for you. If all you want is the filenames in an array, you already have @ARGV which contains those.

Upvotes: 0

Sobrique
Sobrique

Reputation: 53508

Well, first I'd suggest using a module to do args on command line: Getopt::Long for example.

But otherwise your problem is simpler - your shell is expanding the 'file*' before perl gets it. (shell glob is getting there first).

If you do this with:

-f 'file*'

then it'll work properly. You should be able to see this - for example - if you just:

use Data::Dumper;
print Dumper \@ARGV;

I expect you'll see a much longer list than you thought.

However, I'd also point out - perl has a really nice feature you may be able to use (depending what you're doing with your files).

You can use <>, which automatically opens and reads all files specified on command line (in order).

Upvotes: 2

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