Store multiple variables in bash script

Question

Hi I have executed a function and I want to keep that values saved for further use . So what is best way to save multiple variables .My function is

test()
{
   key1='first key'
   key2='second key'
   key3='third key'
   
}

what is not working? your code works fine. Did you invoke the function? run test to invoke the function, then echo $key1 shows you the value. — Chris Maes
– Chris Maes, Commented Nov 18, 2020 at 10:20
@ChrisMaes I want to get these in function2 as well and function2 is independent of this — tempaccount as
– tempaccount as, Commented Nov 18, 2020 at 10:37
The variables are not available as long as that part of code is not executed. The code is only executed when the function is called. If you want global variables to use in two different functions, you need to define them outside the two functions. — Chris Maes
– Chris Maes, Commented Nov 18, 2020 at 10:39
@ChrisMaes yes thats why I want to save that varibles values in a file . but can't find a way to save multiple variables in a single file in bash scripting — tempaccount as
– tempaccount as, Commented Nov 18, 2020 at 10:43

Léa Gris · Accepted Answer · 2020-11-18 10:56:16Z

2

Eventually if you want to save variables to a file and reuse them later:

#!/usr/bin/env bash

writekeys() {
  local key1='first key'
  local key2='second key'
  local key3='third key'

  # Save variables to file
  typeset -p key1 key2 key3 >keys.sh
}

function2() {
  . keys.sh # Load variables from file
  printf 'key1=%s\n' "$key1"
  printf 'key2=%s\n' "$key2"
  printf 'key3=%s\n' "$key3"
}

writekeys

function2

answered Nov 18, 2020 at 10:56

Léa Gris

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4 Comments

tempaccount as Over a year ago

exactly what I want. just one thing if I want to update like key1 value then ?

Léa Gris Over a year ago

@tempaccountas as simple as . keys.sh; key1='newvalue'; typeset -p key1 key2 key3 >keys.sh

tempaccount as Over a year ago

So I getting from this , If I will run this function 2nd time it will automatically update my values ?

Léa Gris Over a year ago

@tempaccountas at one point you are better experimenting with what Chris, others and I's answers. Playing with sample code and sample data will teach you more than an extended conversation with comments here. (which is not recommended and discouraged anway).

Chris Maes · Accepted Answer · 2020-11-18 10:59:27Z

2

If you want to reuse these variables, You could define these variables globally before defining your functions:

#/bin/bash
key1='first key'
key2='second key'
key3='third key'

func1()
{
  echo $key1
}

func2()
{
  echo $key2
  key1="$key3"
}

now try executing the functions:

$ func1
first key
$ func2
second key
$ func1
third key

edited Nov 18, 2020 at 10:59

answered Nov 18, 2020 at 10:46

Chris Maes

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3 Comments

tempaccount as Over a year ago

For example I Update value of $key1 in func1 and then want updated value in function 2 then ?

Chris Maes Over a year ago

I have edited my answer, but next time please try yourself, this was quite obvious...

Chris Maes Over a year ago

can you show your output? Try running bash -x your-script to analyze what happens.

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