bash return value

Question

Hi,

I like to write a script or a function (not sure which one yet) that will be called by another script. The script or function is to generate several values. How can I write these in bash so that in the other script I can get the values returned by the script or function?

Examples are specially appreciated!

Thanks and regards!

Answer 1

As a string delimited by a well-known character (e.g., the colon, as is the convention for $PATH and the like)?

Answer 2

Have the script generating the output send its output to stdout, and have the calling script pull it in with backticks. Example code:

script1.sh:

#!/bin/bash
echo 1 2 3 4

script2.sh:

#!/bin/bash

for ITEM in `script1.sh`
do
    echo Item = $ITEM
done

Answer 3

Use the Bash variable $IFS (internal field separator)

dfunc () {echo "first base:second base:third base:home"}

saveIFS=$IFS
IFS=":"
dval=($(dfunc))    # make an array
IFS=$saveIFS       # put $IFS back as soon as you can, you'll thank me
echo ${dval[1]}

Outputs:

second base

If you use a character that won't appear in your data, for example a colon, then you can use other characters, such as spaces.

And don't use backticks, use $().