Resetting an array and filling it with values in a bash script

Question

I wanted to know the "right" way to do this. Basically, I have a list of files that are in an array called current. This is declared as a global variable that looks like this: current=(). I have successfully put all the files in this array. But now, I am going through and parsing arguments to filter out these files and directories.

For example, to implement the -name '*.pattern' command, I pass in the pattern to process_name() which does this:

process_name ()
{
    local new_cur=()
    for i in "${current[@]}"; do
        if [[ "$i" == "$1" ]]; then
            new_cur+=("$i")
        fi
    done
    current=( "${new_cur[@]}" )
}

After the loop finishes I want to "clear" my current array. Then I want to loop over the new_cur array, and basically make it equal to current, or if I can, just do something like $current = $new_cur (although I know this won't work).

I've tried doing this after the for loop (in process_name()), but my array current doesn't actually change:

current=( "${new_cur[@]}" )

Is there a good way to do this? Or a right way to do this?

anubhava · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-26 09:18:51Z

18

To reset an array just use:

current=()

This will delete old entries and declare a 0 element array.

answered Feb 26, 2015 at 9:18

anubhava

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2 Comments

Alex Over a year ago

How would I load the values from new_cur into current after resetting them?

anubhava Over a year ago

You already had for loop to load values from array1 to array2.

pynexj · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-26 10:03:04Z

3

You can simply clone an array using array1=( "${array2[@]}" ). For example:

[STEP 100] $ echo $BASH_VERSION
4.3.33(1)-release
[STEP 101] $ cat foo.sh
current=(aa bb cc)

process_name ()
{
    local new_cur=()

    for i in "${current[@]}"; do
        if [[ "$i" == "$1" ]]; then
            new_cur+=("$i")
        fi
    done
    current=( "${new_cur[@]}" )
}

process_name aa

for i in "${current[@]}"; do
    printf '%s\n' "$i"
done
[STEP 102] $ bash foo.sh
aa
[STEP 103] $

edited Feb 26, 2015 at 10:03

answered Feb 26, 2015 at 9:06

pynexj

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12 Comments

Alex Over a year ago

Will this overwrite all the values at current?

pynexj Over a year ago

Yes, the old array will be overwritten.

Alex Over a year ago

I did some testing and even though my local variable has the correct values... after resetting the array with the solution you provided, current ends up empty, basically, cur_new never gets written into it. I'm doing current=( "${cur_new[@]}" )

pynexj Over a year ago

It does not work for you? Can you post your new code?

Alex Over a year ago

Just updated it.. I realized I didn't need to check for the types yet. And printing out new_cur in the loop yields correct results. However, once out of the function, printing out current doing for i in "${current[@]}"; do .. printf '%s\n' "$i" .. done does not work :(

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