Why stderr file descriptor redirection makes ksh's "select" construct hang.


 
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# 1  
Old 05-06-2010
Question Why stderr file descriptor redirection makes ksh's "select" construct hang.

I am trying to use one global declaration --> "exec 2>$ERR" to capture all stderr outputs that may occur anywhere in my script.
Then close it at the end of the script using --> "exec 2<&-"

I am using KSH on Solaris 8.
KSH Version M-11/16/88i

If I comment two "exec .." statements in the script,, script[select] works fine.. but if I use --> "exec 2>$ERR" script[select] is hanging.

Quote:
test.sh
Code:
#!/usr/bin/ksh

ERR=all_script_errors.log

# 1. My intent here is to use one global declaration to capture stderr outputs that may occur anywhere in my script.
# 2. For the scope of this script(PID), stderr will be routed to ERR file
exec 2>$ERR

PS3='Select an option and press Enter: '
select i in Date Host Users Quit
do
   case $i in
      Date)  date;;
      Host)  hostname;;
      Users)  who;;
      Quit)  break;;
   esac
done

# close/Reset stderr global error redirection.
exec 2<&-

## EOF

Please try the script on your end..
# 2  
Old 05-06-2010
try running the script with sh -x scriptname you will get an idea :-)
# 3  
Old 05-06-2010
Extract from "man ksh".

Code:
    select identifier [in word...] do list done
                     A select command prints on standard error (file
                     descriptor 2),


You are intercepting standard error.
Just for interest if you type "4" while it is apparently hung, the script exits tidily and the menu text appears in the log file.
# 4  
Old 05-06-2010
Hi Vidyadhar here is the output..

Code:
$> sh -x test.sh
ERR=errors.log
+ exec

I am asking experts here to try the code because its tricky..
Here is the same code without "select" construct..

Quote:
test1.sh
Code:
#!/usr/bin/ksh
set -vx

ERR=all_script_errors.log

# For the scope of this script(PID), stderr will be routed to ERR file 
exec 2>$ERR

blabla

# Reset error redirection. Since select construct's output is going to STD_ERROR.
exec 2<&-

## EOF


Quote:
This output clearly shows there is nothing wrong with stderr redirection part of the logic..,

Code:
$>more all_script_errors.log
test2.sh[9]: blabla:  not found

Please try the code on your end..

---------- Post updated at 11:42 AM ---------- Previous update was at 11:27 AM ----------

Methyl you are right,, Select statement is printing menu choices to stderr.

Quote:
After I closed stderr redirection,, just before select construct gets executed, now select menu is neither printing output to console nor to $ERR ..!!
Does that mean my stderr descriptor closing(exec 2<&-) is wrong?

Code:
#!/usr/bin/ksh

ERR=all_script_errors.log

# For the scope of this script(PID), stderr will be routed to ERR file 
exec 2>$ERR


# Reset error redirection. Since select construct's output is going to STD_ERROR.
exec 2<&-

PS3='Select an option and press Enter: '
select i in Date Host Users Quit
do
   case $i in
      Date)  date;;
      Host)  hostname;;
      Users)  who;;
      Quit)  break;;
   esac
done

## EOF

<QUOTE>
$>more all_script_errors.log
<None>
With --> "exec 2<&-" statement at the end of the script,, I get following output confirming your observation..

Quote:
$> more all_script_errors.log
1) Date
2) Host
3) Users
4) Quit
Select an option and press Enter: Select an option and press Enter: Select an option and press Enter: Select an option and press Ent
er:
[CODE]

Last edited by kchinnam; 05-06-2010 at 12:47 PM..
# 5  
Old 05-07-2010
Please could someone check -->
why even after closing stderr File Descriptor using (exec 2<&-), select construct could not print to console ?
# 6  
Old 05-07-2010
Quote:
Originally Posted by kchinnam
Code:
# Reset error redirection. Since select construct's output is going to STD_ERROR.
exec 2<&-

That does not reset stderr to its original location. That closes the file descriptor and it can no longer be used.

The most correct approach is to "save" the original destination of stderr in case you need it later. For example:
Code:
exec 3>&2                  # File descriptor 3 now points to the original destination of stderr
exec 2 > someotherplace    # Standard error is now redirected for all commands that follow
select ...
do
...
done 2>&3    # Select's stderr is redirected to the original stderr destination, while
             # all other commands continue to redirect stderr to "someotherplace".

Regards,
Alister

Last edited by alister; 05-07-2010 at 03:06 PM..
# 7  
Old 05-07-2010
Alister, your suggestion is working..

How can I reset only this--> exec 2>$ERR, and not worry about breaking script that follows by closing stderr --> exec 2<&- ?

Is there a command that I can use to check if stderr is closed ?
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