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Full Discussion: [BASH - KSH] Passing array to a function
Top Forums Shell Programming and Scripting [BASH - KSH] Passing array to a function Post 302186432 by ripat on Thursday 17th of April 2008 08:17:38 AM
Old 04-17-2008
Boy, this one wasn't easy!

OK, here is what works in bash. Remember, the question was to pass an array to a function and make sure that whatever is done by the function remains local. If the local scope isn't necessary, just remove the "local" declaration.
Code:
#!/bin/bash

function print_array {
    # Setting the shell's Internal Field Separator to null
    OLD_IFS=$IFS
    IFS=''

    # Create a string containing "colors[*]"
    local array_string="$1[*]"

    # assign loc_array value to ${colors[*]} using indirect variable reference
    local loc_array=(${!array_string})

    # Resetting IFS to default
    IFS=$OLD_IFS

    # Checking the second element "Light Gray" (the one with a space)
    echo ${loc_array[1]}
    
}

# create an array and display contents
colors=('Pink' 'Light Gray' 'Green')
echo ${colors[*]}

# call function with positional parameter $1 set to array's name
print_array colors 

# checking whether the function "local" loc_array is visible here
echo "Does the local array exist here? -->${loc_array[*]}<--"
exit 0

This returns:
Code:
Pink Light Gray Green
Light Gray
Does the local array exist here? --><--

We can also "copy" an array the same way: setting IFS to NULL permit to do variable expansion that preserves the possible spaces in array's elements.
Code:
colors=('Pink' 'Light Gray' 'Green')
OLD_IFS=$IFS
IFS=''
copy_colors=(${colors[*]})
IFS=$OLD_IFS

echo ${copy_colors[*]}
echo ${copy_colors[1]}

Last edited by ripat; 04-18-2008 at 03:35 AM..
 

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LEARN ABOUT XFREE86

libbash

LIBBASH(7)							  libbash Manual							LIBBASH(7)

NAME

     libbash -- A bash shared libraries package.

DESCRIPTION

     libbash  is  a package that enables bash dynamic-like shared libraries. Actually its a tool for managing bash scripts whose functions you may
     want to load and use in scripts of your own.

     It contains a 'dynamic loader' for the shared libraries ( ldbash(1)), a configuration tool (ldbashconfig(8)), and some libraries.

     Using ldbash(1) you are able to load loadable bash libraries, such as getopts(1) and hashstash(1).  A bash shared library that can be  loaded
     using
     ldbash(1) must answer 4 requirments:

     1.     It must be installed in $LIBBASH_PREFIX/lib/bash (default is /usr/lib/bash).

     2.     It must contain a line that begins with '#EXPORT='.  That line will contain (after the '=') a list of functions that the library
	    exports.  I.e. all the function that will be usable after loading that library will be listed in that line.

     3.     It must contain a line that begins with '#REQUIRE='.  That line will contain (after the '=') a list of bash libraries that are
	    required for our library.  I.e. every bash library that is in use in our bash library must be listed there.

     4.     The library must be listed (For more information, see ldbashconfig(8)).

   Basic guidelines for writing library of your own:
     1.     Be aware, that your library will be actually sourced. So, basically, it should contain (i.e define) only functions.

     2.     Try to declare all variables intended for internal use as local.

     3.     Global variables and functions that are intended for internal use (i.e are not defined in '#EXPORT=') should begin with:
		  __<library_name>_
	    For example, internal function myfoosort of hashstash library should be named as
		  __hashstash_myfoosort
	    This helps to avoid conflicts in global name space when using libraries that come from different vendors.

     4.     See html manual for full version of this guide.

AUTHORS

     Hai Zaar <haizaar@haizaar.com>
     Gil Ran <ril@ran4.net>

SEE ALSO

     ldbash(1), ldbashconfig(8), getopts(1), hashstash(1) colors(1) messages(1) urlcoding(1) locks(1)

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