How to use variables in an alias?

[kmarris]

From the command line I can execute the following with success:

ps | awk '{print $1}'

It prints the first column of a ps listing as expected. However, if I bind this command to an alias, it does not handle the "$1" variable correctly. I've tried escaping the variable with a backslash, single quote, and double quote, but that did not solve the problem. How can I set the alias correctly?

I'm using tcsh, but I'm not sure if it matters.

>alias test "ps | awk '{print $1}'"
>alias test
ps | awk '{print }'

 

[feherke]

Hi

You forget to mention what shell you use, but on my [tt]bash[/tt] :

alias a='ps | awk "{print \$1}"'

Feherke.

http://rootshell.be/~feherke/

 

[p5wizard]

the $1 is not a variable, it is part of the awk code

like this it should work:

alias test='ps | awk "{print \$1}"'


HTH,

p5wizard

 

[borne2bash]

Hey kmarris.

Try adding an equal sign after what you're assigning an alias to, like so:

$ alias test="ps | awk '{print $1}'"
$ test
PID TTY TIME CMD
9711 pts/6 00:00:00 bash
17406 pts/6 00:00:00 ps
17407 pts/6 00:00:00 awk

Hope this helps.

borne2bash

 

[PHV]

I don't know tcsh, but I think you don't want an alias but a function.

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ181-2886

 

[kmarris]

Hi, feherke,

I thought I mentioned I was using tcsh.

I tried the syntax you provided, but I was unable to get it working in tcsh. Do you have a solution for my particular shell?

Thanks.

 

[kmarris]

Thanks for the replies everyone, but nothing has worked so far.

The equal sign is not valid syntax for defining an alias in tcsh, so that did not help.

 

[feherke]

Hi

Sorry kmarris, I see it now. And sorry again, I have no idea for [tt]tcsh[/tt].

Feherke.

http://rootshell.be/~feherke/