export - Invalid identifier for environment variable

ryan.greenwood · 05-10-2007, 09:25 AM

SUSE

I am a Linux fledgling. I am attempting to set an environment variable, but I am receiving the following error message:

export RTT-TESTCONTEXT=/cygdrive/c/HelloWorld
bash: export: `RTT-TESTCONTEXT=/cygdrive/c/HelloWorld': not a valid identifier

The problem appears to be with the - between RTT and TESTCONTEXT?

Can anyone put me on the right path?

Thanks

marozsas · 05-10-2007, 11:32 AM

looks like the shell does not allow dash as part of name.
In fact there is a special shell notation to provide a default value if the variable is unset. It uses the dash as part of notation:

Code:

miguel@babylon5:~> unset XXX
miguel@babylon5:~> echo "The default value if XXX is not set is ${XXX:-whatever}"
The default value if XXX is not set is whatever
miguel@babylon5:~>

may be you can use RTT_TESTCONTEXT instead ?

ADxD_7 · 05-27-2007, 10:22 PM

# RTT_TESTCONTEXT=/cygdrive/c/HelloWorld
# export RTT_TESTCONTEXT

unless /cygdrive/c/HelloWorld is a command of some kind and you want the output stored to the variable then it would be

# RTT_TESTCONTEXT="'/cygdrive/c/HelloWorld'"
# export RTT_TESTCONTEXT

You should get a bash scripting book... I know thats off subject but I love scripting and think everyone should check it out.