returning a value from a function in a shell script

[Guest_imported]

have a shell script in which I have implemented functions. How do I return
a value back to the calling function. Here is an example.

#! /usr/bin/ksh
function testfunc
{
typeset -i a=1;
a=$((a+1))
return $a
}
echo "Now calling testfunc"
testfunc
echo "Now back"
echo $a

However I am not able to get the value of a which should now be 2. Can
someone suggest a solution. As an addendum I would like to know how to
return an entire array back to the calling function.

 

[MikeLacey]

Hi,

If you say 'return 2' does the value get passed back then?
Mike
michael.j.lacey@ntlworld.com

 

[MikeLacey]

Here you go, the trick is that a return value from a program, a shell script or a function is returned in $? so you have to set a variable to that value as the first operation after calling the function (or whatever).

Mike
[tt]
#!/usr/bin/ksh

function testfunc
{
typeset -i a=1;
a=$((a+1))
return $a
}
echo "Now calling testfunc"
testfunc
b=$?
echo "Now back"
echo $b
[/tt]

Mike
michael.j.lacey@ntlworld.com