Creating a directory using shell

csmu · November 25, 2025, 10:51am

I've got a simple script to create a folder. The code is correct. I can copy out the text, paste it, run it.

Test with ls - present.
Remove with rm -r.
Test with ls - not present.

I run the execute shell with

		Execute Shell Script
		Get input from Environment Variable “newsDirectory”.
		/bin/mkdir -p '$KMVAR_newsDirectory' Display trimmed results without errors in a window.
		Stop macro and notify on failure.

Not only does it fail but I get no notification of it failing

The error logs are like

2025-11-25 21:06:40 Execute macro “Create News Folder” from trigger The Hot Key ⌃F13 is pressed
2025-11-25 21:06:40 Action 16955379 failed: Execute a Shell Script failed with script error: mkdir: $KMVAR_newsDirectory: Read-only file system
2025-11-25 21:06:40 Execute a Shell Script failed with script error: mkdir: $KMVAR_newsDirectory: Read-only file system. Macro “Create News Folder” cancelled (while executing Execute Shell Script).

I've read the wiki on Execute a shell script.

The script is simple

		Set Variable “newsDirectory” to Text
		~/source/go/src/bitbucket.org/$USER/research/documentation/Research/News/%Variable%newsOutlet%/%ICUDateTime%yyyy%/%ICUDateTime%MM%/%ICUDateTime%dd EEEE%  

		Display Text in Window
		/bin/mkdir -p '%Variable%newsDirectory%'   

		Execute Shell Script
		Get input from Environment Variable “newsDirectory”.
		/bin/mkdir -p '$KMVAR_newsDirectory' Display trimmed results without errors in a window.
		Stop macro and notify on failure.

Any pointers?

Nige_S · November 25, 2025, 11:30am

You've used single quotes, preventing variable expansion, and so you're trying to make a directory at the literal path $KMVAR_newsDirectory. That's what the last two errors in your log listing is for.

Try double-quotes instead:

/bin/mkdir -p "$KMVAR_newsDirectory"

Your Terminal testing would have shown the same issue if you'd used a variable and not a string for your path:

mkdir -p '/tmp/Test Dir' -- works
myVar="/tmp/Test Dir";mkdir -p '$myVar' -- fails

Is this part of a longer KM shell script? It's hidden in the Action's settings, but KM's "New Folder" has the option to create intermediate folders:

...to match your mkdir's -p option.

csmu · November 25, 2025, 1:02pm

I'll probably use that action and I want to at some stage pass a variable to a shell script.

Sorry for the $USER. I just put it there to hide my username.
I changed it back and got the same none result.

I should of remembered double quotes are required to expand $variables

It should be very simple. I'm missing something.

Nige_S · November 25, 2025, 1:17pm

So now you've got the double-quotes in (and I've read your post again!) -- remember that ~ is not expanded when within double-quotes!

iMac-3151:dateTest nigel$ ls "~"
ls: ~: No such file or directory

The easiest way round that is "Filter: Standardize Path" your "newDirectory" variable after setting it to your concatenated string, to make it an absolute path:

(You could just "Filter: Expand Tilde", but "Standardize" does some other things as well which might help and, at least, won't hurt.)

Creating a directory using shell

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