Opening up directories with a variable number appended to end

[perlhelp]

Hi everyone,
I am relatively new to perl. I am trying to write a script that can access directories that have variable numbers appended to the end. For example, I have 4 directories that all have an incremental number (1->4) and then an incremental number at the end (x->x+4) that is variable. Besides that the names are identical. For example:

this_is_identical_1_more_identical_15
this_is_identical_2_more_identical_16
this_is_identical_3_more_identical_17
this_is_identical_4_more_identical_18

The 1->4 part I put in the for loop. However, how do I access the directory with an unknown number at the end? I am running this on a unix server, so it might be easiest to use the 'tab' button to autocomplete if that is in any way possible. Any ideas on how to enter these directories?
Thanks!

[numberwhun]

What have you tried so far?

Regards,

Jeff

[perlhelp]

I tried doing

for ($sequence = 1; $sequence <= 4; $sequence++) {
    chdir "SS_".$sequence."_MAX_*";
    ..
    ..
}
 
 
for ($sequence = 1; $sequence <= 4; $sequence++) {
    system "cd SS_".$sequence."_MAX_*";
    ..
    ..
}
 

neither of which have worked. i am currently researching other not as straightforward solutions.

[KevinADC]

maybe:

for (1..4) {
   $n = $_;
   $r = $n+4;
   my $dir = "SS_${n}_MAX_1$r";
   print "$dir\n";
   chdir ($dir);
}       
 

[perlhelp]

if i understand this correctly, this only works if the last numbers are 15 through 18. these numbers can be anything, but they will be sequential

[numberwhun]

if i understand this correctly, this only works if the last numbers are 15 through 18. these numbers can be anything, but they will be sequential

I believe that Kevin actually coded it per your original statement:

For example, I have 4 directories that all have an incremental number (1->4) and then an incremental number at the end (x->x+4) that is variable

I think that so we can better assist you, that you should better describe the naming. Will the first number always be 1 through 4? Will it ever be other than? Will the last number be determined by a formula similar to the one you quoted? More information if you could please.

Regards,

Jeff

[perlhelp]

Sorry if it's not clear. The first number is always 1 through 4. That I can handle with the for loop.
The problem is the last number. It will always be four numbers in a row, but what those numbers are can vary. For example, in one case it can be 15, 16, 17, 18. But in another, it could be 8, 9, 10, 11. Is there any way to chop off a numerical value at the end and store it in a variable and then simply count up from that number?

[miller]

Use regular expressions:

my $basedir = "where ever your dirs are located";
 
open(BASE, $basedir) or die "Can't open $basedir: $!";
my @dirs = grep {!/^\.+$/} readdir(BASE);
closedir(BASE);
 
foreach my $dir (sort @dirs) {
    my $path = "$basedir/$dir";
 
    next if ! -d $path; # Not a directory;
    next if ! $dir =~ /^this_is_identical_\d_more_identical_\d+$/;
 
    # Processing here
}
 

- Miller

[KevinADC]

If you have no idea what those numbers on the end are be beforehand, or can't reasonably guess what they will be, you will have to use a regexp to grep through the directory and pull in the files. Maybe someone else will have a better suggestion.