[clug-talk] Bash Scripting

[Shawn]

I've been trying to create a script file to automate some tasks, and have come 
across some points that could use some outside input....

The script uses a menu interface.  Basically, something like "Select what task 
to do:", list the tasks, then the user hits a key (or types a value followed 
by enter).

I found reference to the "read" command to get a value from the user.  But 
it's not quite the best fit...  It shows a flashing cursor, and control 
characters if the user happens to hit a cursor key.  Is there a better suited 
command/tool for this?  Ideally I'd like to label the tasks/options with 
letters, and then have the user just tap that letter - no enter key needed.

Next, I want to list the sub-directories of a given directory as menu options 
in one case.  I've worked it out, but something is nagging me that there has 
got to be a better way.....  Basically I build an array with the contents of 
the directory, then when I'm building the menu list, I check each item to see 
if it's a directory.

So, to populate the array I'm doing this:

cd $SRCDIR
dirarray=( ls * )

Then, when I'm creating the menu list with a loop like so:

count=${#dirarray[@]}

for ((i=0; i < count; i++))
do
	if [ -d "${SRCDIR}/${dirarray[$i]}" ]; then
		echo "$i : ${dirarray[$i]}"
	fi
done

Isn't there a better way to initially populate the array with the directories 
only?  I didn't see such an option for ls on it's man page...

And finally, I would like to pause the script when it completes a task.  
Something like "Hit any key to continue".  So far the only option I can see 
is to call the read command, and just ignore it's input.  Is there a better 
way to do this?

Thanks for any tips.

Shawn