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ksh - Passing a function return value to a variable
I'm a Windows programmer by trade......
I have 2 books that both explain functions. Neither show how to assign a return function value to a variable. Either externally or within the same script. All examples I have found work the same as a Windows "subroutine"....returning no value. I think I'm close but don't have the correct syntax. Here's the pseudocode.
**************************
function getChars {
var1=$1
var2=$(var1%.*)
return var2
}
.....
var3=$(getChars abcdefg)
**************************
In my case the function and the "call" to it are all in the same script. Can someone help me with the "syntax".."tricks"..."do's
Thanks...
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Answers
When used, a function should be seen like a normal
program ie, like normal programs, a function can only
return an "exit" value which is an _integer_.
But unlike normal programs, variables defined in
function stay "alive" after the function returns so
you can use $var2 after calling getChars :
function getChars
{
var2=$1
}
getChars abcdefg
echo $var2
Stephane
You can sorta do what you want by:
function getChars {
var1=$1
var2=$(var1%.*)
echo "$var2"
}
var3=$(getChars abcdefg)
ie: if the function output something, then you can capture it in much the same way as if you are calling an external script.
return is used for returning a status value. So in the above example, if something failed, you'd return a non zero value, eg:
function getChars {
var1=$1
var2=$(var1%.*)
echo "$var2"
if [[ sometest ]]
then
return 0 # Succesful
else
return 1 # failed
fi
}
var3=$(getChars abcdefg) || exit $?
or alternatively
var3=$(getChars abcdefg)
if [[ $? -ne 0 ]]
then
echo "The function failed"
exit 1
fi
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by: ahoffmannPosted on 2003-03-05 at 06:32:51ID: 8071966
you cannot return variable (by reference) in shell scripting, you just can return values (either integer or strings).
If you need to "return" more than one value, you need to use global variables, or pack the resuklts together in the function and parse it at the calling place.