bash function with return value AND return string

Question

First my sourcecode to test the returning method of bash functions:

function oidev.fnc.bash.example.fncreturnstringvalue
{
  echo "ABC"
  return 1
}

and the caller function:

function oidev.fnc.bash.example.fncreturnstringvaluecaller
{
  local FNCVALUE
  local FNCSTRING
  FNCSTRING=$(oidev.fnc.bash.example.fncreturnstringvalue && FNCVALUE="$?" || FNCVALUE="$?")
   # String OK but Value empty
  echo "VALUE : $FNCVALUE" 
  echo "STRING: $FNCSTRING"
  unset FNCVALUE
  unset FNCSTRING
  oidev.fnc.bash.example.fncreturnstringvalue && FNCVALUE="$?" || FNCVALUE="$?"
    # Value OK and String on STDOUT
  echo "VALUE : $FNCVALUE" 
  echo "STRING: $FNCSTRING"
}

The output in bash:
VALUE :
STRING: ABC
ABC
VALUE : 1
STRING: (surely empty, but echoed from the function) `

And now my simple question:
Is it possible to get the returning string and returning value into two different variables by a single line construction?

I don't want to use globals, nore the use of if $? after the sub-call!
Many thanks for help, and sorry for my german-english!

clt60 · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-21 21:21:53Z

1

Try this, maybe helps:

func() {
    echo 'abc'
    return 111
}

read var1 var2 <<<$(func; echo $?)
echo "var1 $var1"
echo "var2 $var2"

will print:

var1 abc
var2 111

workaround for the "spaces problem" - now, haven't better idea as use an helper function like this

func() {
    echo 'abc def'
    return 111
}

runner() {
    ret=$(func)
    echo $? $ret
}

read -r var2 var1 <<<$(runner func)
echo "var1 $var1"
echo "var2 $var2"

or using a helper variable and switching the variable order

func() {
    echo 'abc def'
    return 111
}
read -r var2 var1 <<<$(res=$(func); echo $? $res)
echo "var1 $var1"
echo "var2 $var2"

both will return

var1 abc def
var2 111

edited Apr 21, 2013 at 21:21

answered Apr 21, 2013 at 19:10

clt60

64.3k17 gold badges114 silver badges206 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

6 Comments

Klaus Baumann Over a year ago

Thanks for this perfect answer, the <<< construction..., google knows!

jordanm Over a year ago

This will not work if the string returned by func() contains spaces.

Klaus Baumann Over a year ago

Yes, but it can be quoted inside the function with echo "\'a b c\'" to one variable to READ from the Caller

jordanm Over a year ago

two statements. var1=$(func); var2=$?

jordanm Over a year ago

@KlausBaumann read splits based on IFS. quotes don't matter unless you put quotes in IFS

|

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

bash function with return value AND return string

1 Answer 1

6 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

6 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related