lose varfiable setting in loop 1

[AlbertAguirre]

# i set my variable here
thisvar="abc"
echo $thisvar

# i go into my loop here and reset the variable
ls -l |
while IFS=":" read f1 f2
do
thisvar="xyz"
done

# display the supposed reset variable here
echo $thisvar


The result should be xyz but it remains abc

Why???

How can change the variable within the loop???

 

[SamBones]

What shell are you using? It's working for me in the Korn Shell.

 

[LKBrwnDBA]

That's a bash shell issue where it create a new process to execute the loop -- bummer.

There may be a work-around which I don't remember at this time.



----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The person who says it can't be done should not interrupt the person doing it. -- Chinese proverb

 

[AlbertAguirre]

I am indeed using bash.

Can I make it a ksh (#!/bin/ksh) and have it work?

I tried that but no success

Ideas anyone?

 

[Annihilannic]

This:

  ls -l > /tmp/sometempfile$$
  while IFS=":" read f1 f2
  do
    thisvar="xyz"
  done < /tmp/sometempfile$$
  rm -f /tmp/sometempfile$$

Or if your shell supports process substitution:

  while IFS=":" read f1 f2
  do
    thisvar="xyz"
  done <(ls -l)

Annihilannic.

 

[feherke]

Hi

Mostly just matter of style, but I prefer it this way, without a temporary file :

while IFS=":" read f1 f2; do
  thisvar="xyz"
done <<< "$( ls -l )"

This is [tt]bash[/tt] only syntax.

Feherke.

http://rootshell.be/~feherke/

 

[Annihilannic]

Hmm... "Here Strings"... a new one on me, thanks feherke!

Annihilannic.