Error in writing to file ${file} check its permissions! # increase line counter ((count++)) write current to a tmp file with name $file (not needed for counting) echo $LINE > this checks the return code of writing just demo)# Bash tutorial: http://linuxconfig.org/Bash_scripting_Tutorial#8-2-read-file-into-bash-array My scripting link: http://www.macs.hw.ac.uk/~hwloidl/docs/index.html#scripting if $? -ne then