Shell script datetime function?

Question

I am running the following script:

#!/bin/ksh
./clear_old
./rooms_xls.pl 2/23/09
cd doors
./doors_xls.pl 2/23/09

How can I get the date to be today's date based upon the system/server time?

Answer 1

$(date)

works

Answer 2

This should work fine (and be almost compliant with your format):

#!/bin/ksh
./clear_old
./rooms_xls.pl `date +%D`
cd doors
./doors_xls.pl `date +%D`

Answer 3

Use backticks with the date command:

./rooms_xls.pl `date +%m/%d/%Y`