reassigning Global variables in shell scripts

Question

I am new to shell scripting and I need some help on the following problem:

I have script. It has a global variable defined as follows:

ARCHIVE_USER=user1

Then, in a method, I am changing the values for these variables:

test_function(){

  ARCHIVE_USER=user2
  test_function2()
}

test_function2(){
  echo ARCHIVE_USER
}

I want test_function2 to print "user2" instead of "user1" because in the test_function I have renamed the variable value to "user2", but when I run it, it is always giving me "user1" as the output. What am I doing wrong here?

echo $ARCHIVE_USER should be better in your test_function2(). Or you can use "export" to set the to the entire environment. Example : export ARCHIVE_USER=user1. — Depado
– Depado, Commented May 10, 2012 at 8:13

kev · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-09 03:12:58Z

2

You should define those function in the same environment.

If you put them in different scripts, and run them by /path/to/script_1.sh and /path/to/script_2. They will not affect each other. Because they run in different environment.

You should read more about subshell/subprocess.

answered May 9, 2012 at 3:12

kev

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Comments

rposky · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-09 03:14:40Z

1

This script works as you expect it should, i.e. it prints "B".

#!/usr/bin/bash

TEST=A

test_a()
{ 
    TEST=B
    test_b
}

test_b()
{
    echo $TEST
}

test_a

So, my question to you is how are you calling your test_function()?

answered May 9, 2012 at 3:14

rposky

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1 Comment

KItis Over a year ago

Yes, you are correct, i have given a sample script here, in my original script, before asigning value B to TEST variable, test_b is called by some other function. that has making the problem. your answer helped me to nail down the issue. thanks for your time...

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