How to write an if-statement within a if-statement

Question

How can I write something like:

if $1 = a then check second statement if $2 is b then echo a and b
else $1 = 1 then check second statement if $2 = 2 then echo 1 and 2

...where all of the variables are strings?

This is what I have:

fun() {
  if [ "$1" == "a" ]; # when $1 is a then
  then
    if [ "$2" == "" ]; # $1 is a and $2 is empty string
      echo a
    elif [ "$2" == "b" ]; # $1 is a and $2 is b
    then
      echo "a and b"
     fi
   fi
  else
    if [ "$1" == "1" ]; # when $1 is 1 then
    then
      if [ "$2" == "" ]; # $1 is 1 and $2 is empty string
        echo a
       elif [ "$2" == "2" ]; #$1 is 1 and $2 is 2
       then
         echo "1 and 2"
       fi
    fi
}

Using a nested case statement could help you: stackoverflow.com/questions/1477518/nested-case-in-bash-script — eckes
– eckes, Commented Jun 7, 2011 at 9:45
how would i write a switch in this case?, I'm a beginner in coding — devric
– devric, Commented Jun 7, 2011 at 10:02
It's called case in Bash (switch in C-like languages). Follow @eckes' link (that comment should be the (accepted) answer) IMHO. — johnsyweb
– johnsyweb, Commented Jun 7, 2011 at 10:11

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 11:55:37Z

3

Using a nested case statement could help you: Nested case in bash script

Your function would look like this:

fun(){
  case "$1" in
    "a")                      # $1 is 'a'
      case "$2" in
        "")  echo "$1";;      # only $1 present
        "b") echo "a and b";; # $1 is 'a' and $2 is 'b'
      esac;;
    "1")                      # $1 is '1'
      case "$2" in
        "")  echo "$1";;      # only $1 present
        "2") echo "1 and 2";; # $1 is '1' and $2 is '2'
      esac;;
  esac
}

edited May 23, 2017 at 11:55

CommunityBot

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answered Jun 7, 2011 at 10:13

eckes

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Comments

LeleDumbo · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-07 09:49:18Z

1

fun() {   
  if [ "$1" == "a" ]; # when $1 is a then
  then
    if [ "$2" == "" ]; # $1 is a and $2 is empty string
    then # was missing
      echo a
    elif [ "$2" == "b" ]; # $1 is a and $2 is b
    then
      echo "a and b"
    fi
  # fi # shouldn't be here if you want to have else
  else
    if [ "$1" == "1" ]; # when $1 is 1 then
    then
      if [ "$2" == "" ]; # $1 is 1 and $2 is empty string
      then
        echo a
      elif [ "$2" == "2" ]; #$1 is 1 and $2 is 2
      then
        echo "1 and 2"
      fi
    fi
  fi
}

answered Jun 7, 2011 at 9:49

LeleDumbo

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Comments

user3694243 · Accepted Answer · 2014-10-18 13:15:44Z

"then" should be after each "if"

fun() { if [ "$1" == "a" ]; # when $1 is a then then if [ "$2" == "" ]; # $1 is a and $2 is empty string then #### 1st omitted "then" echo a elif [ "$2" == "b" ]; # $1 is a and $2 is b then echo "a and b" fi # fi #### this fi should be in the end else if [ "$1" == "1" ]; # when $1 is 1 then then if [ "$2" == "" ]; # $1 is 1 and $2 is empty string then #### 2nd omitted "then" echo a elif [ "$2" == "2" ]; #$1 is 1 and $2 is 2 then echo "1 and 2" fi fi fi #### here }

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