Store multi-line output into an array in a Linux bash script

steven.c.banks · 12-16-2009, 03:54 PM

I am using this command to load the output of a command into an array and then examine the results:

ldapoutputarray=( $(su - dcmbox -c "$dcdldapstr") )
echo "0=${ldapoutputarray[0]}"
echo "1=${ldapoutputarray[1]}"
echo "2=${ldapoutputarray[2]}"
echo "3=${ldapoutputarray[3]}"

What I get is:
0=#
1=extended
2=LDIF
3=#

What I want is:
0=# extended LDIF
1=#
2=# LDAPv3
3=#

i.e. it is using the space between words as a delimiter when loading the array. I want it to load the array by line, not word. Would appreciate any suggestions.

sarum1990 · 12-16-2009, 04:55 PM

This has to do with the variable IFS in bash. by default:

Code:

IFS=$' \t\n'

This means essentially that all tabs and newlines are translated to spaces when variables are assigned that value because space is the first character in IFS. Also it means that spaces, tabs, and newlines represent separators. (IFS I believe stands for internal field separator)

so the following script should work:

Code:

IFS=$'\n'
dapoutputarray=( $(su - dcmbox -c "$dcdldapstr") )
echo "0=${ldapoutputarray[0]}"
echo "1=${ldapoutputarray[1]}"
echo "2=${ldapoutputarray[2]}"
echo "3=${ldapoutputarray[3]}"
unset IFS

So only newlines are considered to be array field separators.

hope this helps

steven.c.banks · 12-17-2009, 09:10 AM

That worked perfectly - thanks!!