Linux Shell Scripting Cookbook - Third Edition

How to do it...

The mktemp command will create a unique temporary file or folder name:

1. Create a temporary file:

        $ filename=`mktemp`
        $ echo $filename
        /tmp/tmp.8xvhkjF5fH

This creates a temporary file, stores the name in filename, and then displays the name.

2. Create a temporary directory:

        $ dirname=`mktemp -d`
        $ echo $dirname
        tmp.NI8xzW7VRX

This creates a temporary directory, stores the name in filename, and displays the name.

• To generate a filename without creating a file or directory, use this:

                $ tmpfile=`mktemp -u`
                $ echo $tmpfile
                /tmp/tmp.RsGmilRpcT

Here, the filename is stored in $tmpfile, but the file won't be created.

• To create the temporary filename based on a template, use this:

                $mktemp test.XXX
                test.2tc