How to put bash / awk commands into a variable ( not output of commands)

Question

I am trying to just put bash commands into a variable and later run with exit code function.

command1="$(awk -v previous_date=$reply -f $SCRIPT_HOME/tes.awk <(gzip -dc $logDir/*) > $OUTFILE)" # Step 1

check_exit $command1 # Step2

Here it runs the command in step 1 and always returns 0 exit code.

How Can I put commands in a variable and later run with exit function.

@ n.m. - I've not done that, do you have any sample on this? — Devesh
– Devesh, Commented Jul 31, 2014 at 10:43
I am sorry, I did not understand "Write a bash function" . Sometime it happens, after saying you dont know you realize ohh boy i knew it. Thank you for your time — Devesh
– Devesh, Commented Jul 31, 2014 at 11:46

konsolebox · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-31 10:51:38Z

2

You can declare your function this way:

function command1 { 
    awk -v "previous_date=$reply" -f "$SCRIPT_HOME/tes.awk" <(gzip -dc "$logDir"/*) > "$OUTFILE"
}

Or the older form:

command1() { 
    awk -v "previous_date=$reply" -f "$SCRIPT_HOME/tes.awk" <(gzip -dc "$logDir"/*) > "$OUTFILE"
}

Take attention on placing variables inside double quotes to prevent word splitting and pathname expansion.

Some POSIXists would prefer that you use the old version for compatibility but if you're just running your code with bash, everything can just be a preference.

And you can also have another function like checkexit which would check the exit code of the command:

function checkexit {
    "$@"
    echo "Command returned $?"
}

Example run:

checkexit command1

answered Jul 31, 2014 at 10:51

konsolebox

76.3k13 gold badges110 silver badges114 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

Tom Fenech · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-31 10:51:49Z

1

Try using a function:

do_stuff() { echo "$var"; echo that; }

You can later call this function and check the error code:

$ var="this"
$ do_stuff
this
that
$ echo $?
0

The variables defined in the global scope of your script will be visible to the function.

So for your example:

command1() { awk -v previous_date="$reply" -f "$SCRIPT_HOME/tes.awk" <(gzip -dc "$logDir/*") > "$OUTFILE"); }

check_exit command1

By the way, I put some quotes around the variables in your function, as it's typically a good idea in case their values contain spaces.

edited Jul 31, 2014 at 10:51

answered Jul 31, 2014 at 10:44

Tom Fenech

75.1k13 gold badges119 silver badges154 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to put bash / awk commands into a variable ( not output of commands)

2 Answers 2

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related