Why does DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "$( readlink "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" )" && pwd )" return "no such file or directory" when calling ${DIR}?

Question

I am currently trying to find the full directory name of a script I am calling. I found code online that uses:

DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "$( readlink "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" )" && pwd )"

to set the directory, then afterwards, I try to open a file by calling:

open ${DIR}/file_open.jpg

to which I get -bash: /Volumes/Drive: No such file or directory. I am unsure why this doesn't work. I am running it from Mac OSX's terminal. Does anyone have any ideas?

@albttx not when nesting `$(`...`)`. Quotes inside are automatically at a separate level from quotes outside. — Mark Reed, Oct 15 '18 at 13:28

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 15 '18 at 13:26

1

Because you didn't quote your variable.

open "${DIR}/file_open.jpg"

You must quote it. See here why quoting is important.

Also DIR is simpler as:

DIR=$(dirname "$(readlink "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")")

answered Oct 15 '18 at 13:26

KamilCuk

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Why does DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "$( readlink "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" )" && pwd )" return "no such file or directory" when calling ${DIR}?

1 Answers1