File1: Binary operator expected

Question

I am trying to create a shell script as below on Linux.

#!/bin/bash
if [ cp file1 /tmp ];
then
  rm file1
fi

But I am getting an error message as "file1:binary operator required" I have tried a lot of options like enclosing line 2 within [[ ]], () etc but it's not working. I am not sure what am I missing. I even tried searching for other similar questions on StackOverflow but none are solving my problem.

So can you please help?

Why did you think you needed `[` at all? That's used for evaluating conditional expressions like `$variable = "string"` — Barmar, Feb 28 '23 at 00:17
I am new to shell scripting. I read that we need to enclose the condition after if in [ ]. Hence I did it — Shravani, Feb 28 '23 at 00:19
See ["Bash conditional based on exit code of command"](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/49849957/bash-conditional-based-on-exit-code-of-command/49850110). — Gordon Davisson, Feb 28 '23 at 00:48

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 28 '23 at 00:20

1

You should write:

#!/bin/bash
if cp file1 /tmp ; then
  rm file1
fi

Or

cp file1 /tmp && rm file1

Or perhaps directly:

mv file1 /tmp

answered Feb 28 '23 at 00:20

NoDataFound

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This is an exercise given to use if condition so the 1st one worked.Thanks – Shravani Feb 28 '23 at 00:28

File1: Binary operator expected

1 Answers1