Declaring the variable local is a good idea. Normally saying the variable is global applies just within that script. It is not visible outside that process unless you export it as an environment variable. Since however, you are pasting this into the .bashrc file, is a global variable for that process the same as an environment variable?
*Don Marang*Vinux Software Development Coordinator - vinuxproject.org <http://www.vinuxproject.org/> There is just so much stuff in the world that, to me, is devoid of any real substance, value, and content that I just try to make sure that I am working on things that matter.
-- Dean Kamen On 5/14/2011 8:30 PM, Tyler Spivey wrote:
I modified the function as follows, similar to Don's method. Assuming you don't want to use $EDITOR: function e2m { if [ $# -lt 1 ];then echo "Syntax: e2m<manpage>" return fi local tmpfile="$(mktemp)" man "$@"> "$tmpfile"&& ed "$tmpfile" rm -f "$tmpfile" } The if statement could be replaced with a strung together command list, but we need local in front of tmpfile; otherwise it's global. Also, the $1 is replaced with $@. The reason being that some manpages are in two sections, for example open(2) and open(3p), accessed by either man 2 open or man 3p open. On Sat, May 14, 2011 at 08:08:02PM -0400, Don Marang wrote:That is pretty much how I learned over the years as well. A quick bash tutorial or two helps as well. I will look up a useful link or two and provide below. In bash there are many ways to get things done. Your script function works well. Below I will present a slightly different method. function e2m{ [ $# -ne 1 ]&& echo "Syntax: e2m<manpage>"&& return -1 tmpfile=$(mktemp) man "$1"> "$tmpfile"&& ed "$tmpfile" || echo "man command failed." rm -rf $tmpfile } The ; character can be used to string commands together on the same line. The&& (AND) operator is similar, but the second command does not get executed if the first command fails. Many commands can be strung together like this. The || (OR) operator is normally used at the end of such a sequence. It is executed when any of the commands in the sequence fail. I also added a return value, which will be the ErrorCode of the new command. This is absolutely necessary if this function is used for a conditional statement in a script. Bash Guide for Beginners http://tldp.org/LDP/Bash-Beginners-Guide/html/ Main Page - Linux Shell Scripting Tutorial - A Beginner's handbook http://bash.cyberciti.biz/guide/Main_Page GNU Bash Reference Manual http://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/bashref.html *Don Marang* Vinux Software Development Coordinator - vinuxproject.org <http://www.vinuxproject.org/> There is just so much stuff in the world that, to me, is devoid of any real substance, value, and content that I just try to make sure that I am working on things that matter. -- Dean Kamen On 5/14/2011 5:08 PM, Littlefield, Tyler wrote:I've known bits and pieces of it for a long time, I just google the syntaxes that I need and go from there. It's a bit slow, but I've not had the motivation quite yet to sit down and learn bash. On 5/14/2011 3:06 PM, Don Marang wrote:Thanks. Looks like you are picking up bash pretty well. *Don Marang* Vinux Software Development Coordinator - vinuxproject.org <http://www.vinuxproject.org/> There is just so much stuff in the world that, to me, is devoid of any real substance, value, and content that I just try to make sure that I am working on things that matter. -- Dean Kamen On 5/14/2011 4:33 PM, Littlefield, Tyler wrote:Hello all: I got kind of tired of messing with my client and it's weird issues with manpages, cutting off the top when I page with the pager, etc etc. So, I give you ed2man (which should actually be man2ed, but I'm already stuck on writing e2m. Just pop this in your .bashrc file and you should be set, enjoy! function e2m { if [ $# -ne 1 ];then echo "Syntax: e2m<manpage>" return fi tmpfile=$(mktemp) if ! man "$1"> "$tmpfile";then rm -rf "$tmpfile" else ed "$tmpfile" rm -rf $tmpfile fi }-- Take care, Ty my website: http://tds-solutions.net my blog: http://tds-solutions.net/blog skype: st8amnd127 “Programmers are in a race with the Universe to create bigger and better idiot-proof programs, while the Universe is trying to create bigger and better idiots. So far the Universe is winning.” “If Java had true garbage collection, most programs would delete themselves upon execution.”__________ View the list's information and change your settings at //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind
