[SOLVED][BASH] Using a string to pass multiple arguments.

OrionFyre · 2011-04-05 16:26:19

I'm scratching my brain on this little project my friend roped me into.

I have a function which generates a list of VM's and their states and stores it as a variable. this list is to be presented to the user using the libgui.sh 'ask_option' function. The problem is that the ask_option function does not interpret it correctly. And by saying ask_option isn't doing it right I mean I am expecting a certain behavior, and that expectation is flawed.

Here are the two parts in question

#assume VMLIST has a value identical to this assignment after my function call:
#I have confirmed that this is the exact value
VMLIST="\"Arch Linux Live\" \"running\" \"Windows XP\" \"power off\"" 

ask_option  0 "VMs Present" '' optional "0" "Return to the Main Menu" $VMLIST

What I actually get shows that ask_option is interpreting each discreet word as an argument. whereas I want the argument to be the text between each quote

0            Return to Main Menu
"Arch        Linux
Live"        "running"
"Windows     XP"
"power       off"

Obviously what I want is a two column output in the dialog that resembles

0                  Return to Main Menu
Arch Linux Live    running
Windows XP         power off

What should our approach be to rectify this? How can I use the variable to suppply discreet arguments to another function? or rather how can I have the value of the variable interpreted literally on the function call line?

Last edited by OrionFyre (2011-04-05 19:04:49)

pyroscope · 2011-04-05 18:00:57

$ dumpargs() { for i in "$@" ; do echo $i ; done ; }
$ dumpargs $VMLIST
"Arch Linux Live" "running" "Windows XP" "power off"
$ eval dumpargs $VMLIST
Arch Linux Live
running
Windows XP
power off

falconindy · 2011-04-05 18:14:13

Use an array.

options=("Arch Linux Live" "running" "Windows XP" "power off")
ask_option ... "${options[@]}"

OrionFyre · 2011-04-05 18:27:10

ok... I get the logic.

But it's still behaving exactly the same...

ask_option 0 "VMs Present" '' required "0" "Return to Main Menu" `dumpargs $VMLIST`

Am I doing something completely wrong?

OrionFyre · 2011-04-05 18:59:46

ARRAYS! I knew that

Thanks scary face kitteh!

I should have remembered arrays. alas. that's what happens when you don't use it for a while.

Arch Linux

#1 2011-04-05 16:26:19

[SOLVED][BASH] Using a string to pass multiple arguments.

#2 2011-04-05 18:00:57

Re: [SOLVED][BASH] Using a string to pass multiple arguments.

#3 2011-04-05 18:14:13

Re: [SOLVED][BASH] Using a string to pass multiple arguments.

#4 2011-04-05 18:27:10

Re: [SOLVED][BASH] Using a string to pass multiple arguments.

#5 2011-04-05 18:59:46

Re: [SOLVED][BASH] Using a string to pass multiple arguments.

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