Calling perl script from perl

Question

I have a perl script which takes 2 arguments as follows and calls appropriate function depending on the argument. I call this script from bash, but i want to call it from perl, is it possible?

/opt/sbin/script.pl --group="value1" --rule="value2";

Also the script exits with a return value that I would like to read.

Why not just call it with require? require "/path/to/your/script.pl"; — konsolebox
– konsolebox, Commented Sep 13, 2013 at 16:48
@konsolebox, Don't require files without package directive; use do. — ikegami
– ikegami, Commented Sep 13, 2013 at 16:51
Scripts can't return value. Do you mean you want the process's exit code, or do you mean you want to capture its output? — ikegami
– ikegami, Commented Sep 13, 2013 at 16:58
System worked in my case. I have to do $? >> 8 to get the exit code. Thanks — user1060517
– user1060517, Commented Sep 13, 2013 at 18:02
Yes, system probably returns the same as the wait(pid, &status) system call puts into status. — SzG
– SzG, Commented Sep 13, 2013 at 18:04

ikegami · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-13 16:52:41Z

5

The Perl equivalent of sh command

/opt/sbin/script.pl --group="value1" --rule="value2"

is

system('/opt/sbin/script.pl', '--group=value1', '--rule=value2');

You could also launch the command in a shell by using the following, though I'd avoid doing so:

system(q{/opt/sbin/script.pl --group="value1" --rule="value2"});

Just like you'd have to do in sh, you'll have to follow up with some error checking (whichever approach you took). You can do so by using use autodie qw( system );. Check the docs for how to do it "manually" if you want more flexibility.

answered Sep 13, 2013 at 16:52

ikegami

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SzG · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-13 16:51:47Z

3

If you want to capture the output:

$foo = `/opt/sbin/script.pl --group="value1" --rule="value2"`;

If you want to capture the exit status, but send script.pl's output to stdout:

$status = system "/opt/sbin/script.pl --group=value1 --rule=value2";

If you want to read its output like from a file:

open SCRIPT, "/opt/sbin/script.pl --group=value1 --rule=value2 |" or die $!;
while (<SCRIPT>) ...

answered Sep 13, 2013 at 16:51

SzG

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1 Comment

user1060517 Over a year ago

System worked in my case. I have to do $? >> 8 to get the exit code. Thanks

chrsblck · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-13 16:53:04Z

1

Yes. You can use system, exec, or <backticks>.

The main difference between system and exec is that exec "executes a command and never returns.

Example of system:

system("perl", "foo.pl", "arg");

answered Sep 13, 2013 at 16:53

chrsblck

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