Is there some native function(shell, linux command) to merge/compute the full path?
example:
old_path="~/test1/test2/../dir3//file.txt"
new_path=FUN($old_path)
echo "$new_path" // I want get this "/home/user/test1/dir3/file.txt"
2 Answers
Use readlink:
$ readlink -m ~/foo.txt
/home/user/foo.txt
$ readlink -m ~/somedir/..foo.txt
/home/user/foo.txt
It also handles symlinks.
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@Jens: You're probably referring to tilde expansion in a variable. In that event, it'd make sense to use
${HOME}instead as you've mentioned.– devnullCommented Jun 13, 2013 at 8:11
Does
new_path=$(eval cd "$old_path"; pwd)
work for you? You can also use pwd -P if you want symlinks resolved. You can make life easier if you use $HOME instead of ~ in old_path. Then you don't need the eval.
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Luckily, my
bashhasn't read this comment so it doesn't know about. If I enterecho $(cd ~/mp3; pwd -P), I get/home/glglgl/mp3. If I'd put it into a variable instead, the same would happen.– glglglCommented Jun 13, 2013 at 7:00 -
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@glglgl No it doesn't. You're running a different command and I suggest you actually do put it in a variable with quotes. If
foo="~"; cd $fooworks in your bash, it is broken. The problem is that tilde expansion occurs before parameter expansion when using$foo.– JensCommented Jun 13, 2013 at 8:50
realpath -m $(eval echo "$old_path")may or may not help you. Note thatevalis a security risk, use it responsibly.