Sir, I have tried all possible combinations of $k and k. And neither of them give me my expected output. Either I am not able grasp what you are telling me or you don't understand what I want. Or maybe it can't be done all together.

I posting various combinations of scripts that I have tried with their respective outputs-:

First Sample Script-: (Where all $k has been replaced with k)

Code:

 
 function my_local_function () {
 echo $1;
 }
 export -f my_local_function
 echo $1 | awk -F"/" '{ for (k=1;k<=NF;k++) { if ( k == "a" ) { system("my_local_function" k) } else { print k } } }'

Output-:

Code:

1
2
3
4

As you can see above no errors but I don't get my expected output. Since I am using k and not $k. Since k represents the loop variable and not its value.

Second Sample Script-: (Where I am using system("my_local_function" k) and $k in all other places)

Code:

 
 function my_local_function () {
 echo $1;
 }
 export -f my_local_function
 echo $1 | awk -F"/" '{ for (k=1;k<=NF;k++) { if ( $k == "a" ) { system("my_local_function" k) } else { print $k } } }'

Output-:

Code:

sh: my_local_function1: command not found
b
c
d

Third Sample script: (Where I am using system("my_local_function k") and $k in all other places)

Code:

 
 function my_local_function () {
 echo $1;
 }
 export -f my_local_function
 echo $1 | awk -F"/" '{ for (k=1;k<=NF;k++) { if ( $k == "a" ) { system("my_local_function k") } else { print $k } } }'

Output-:

Code:

k
b
c
d

Again not a correct output but error free.

Fourth Sample Script-: (Where I am using system("my_local_function $k") and $k in all other places)

Code:

 
 function my_local_function () {
 echo $1;
 }
 export -f my_local_function
 echo $1 | awk -F"/" '{ for (k=1;k<=NF;k++) { if ( $k == "a" ) { system("my_local_function $k") } else { print $k } } }'

Output-:

Code:

b
c
d

One blank line and the rest of the output is OK.

So basically what I want to do is call a BASH function from awk and pass the value of an awk variable as an argument. CAN IT BE DONE ?

And please can you post an entire working script next time rather than telling me what to do. It will avoid any further confusions.