want to run command from variable

[cp2000]

I'm running a bash shell. version 2.05b I would like to be able to load a commandline into an environmnetal variable and then runn the command using that variable.

It seems to work OK until I get special characters in the commandline. For instance

REMOVECOMMAND="rm -f $DESTINATIONDIR/$SOURCEHOSTNAME/$TARFILENAME{,.gz}"
$REMOVECOMMAND

runs just fine!! But

BACKUPCOMMAND="tar -cf $DESTINATIONDIR/$SOURCEHOSTNAME $TARFILENAME $SOURCEDIRECTORY > $DESTINATIONDIR/$SOURCEHOSTNAME/$LISTNAME 2>>$MAILFILE"
$BACKUPCOMMAND

fails!
Looking at the results of "set -x" shows that the redirects are being put in single quotes. How do I escape the redirects?

 

[PHV]

In the man (or info) page, take a look at the eval shell builtin.

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ222-2244

 

[cp2000]

tried it...it runs but it doesn't solve the problem

eval $BACKUPCOMMAND

 

[Mike042]

I looked at doing something like this in Korn shell and ended up using aliases, eg:

command="tar -cf $DESTINATIONDIR/$SOURCEHOSTNAME $TARFILENAME $SOURCEDIRECTORY > $DESTINATIONDIR/$SOURCEHOSTNAME/$LISTNAME 2>>$MAILFILE"
alias BACKUPCOMMAND=${command}

In my case I was extracting information from a database to generate the command variable (using grep & sed) which is why I used a couple of lines of scripting. I expect it can be done in one.

Just an idea, I hope it helps.

Mike