[SOLVED] bash question w/ nested function definitions

__John_L. · 03-28-2021, 12:37 PM

I've created some function definitions thusly:

dfn.sh

Code:

   set -a
   fcn1 () {
      echo #1
   }
   fcn2 () {
      echo #2
   }
   fcn3 () {
      echo #3
   }

Then I issue:

main.sh

Code:

   . ./dfn.sh & wait $!
   fcn1 | fcn2 | fcn3

but I get "fcnx : command not found."

Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide.

boughtonp · 03-28-2021, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by __John_L.

but I get "fcnx : command not found."

The code you posted does not produce that error.

Either post the real code, or post a new example that you have first verified demonstrates the actual issue you are having.

__John_L. · 03-28-2021, 02:01 PM

I issued

Code:

set -x

and obtained the following:

Code:

+ . ./main.sh
++ wait 8163
++ . ./dfn.sh
+++ set -a
[1]+  Done                    . ./dfn.sh
++ fcn2
++ fcn3
++ fcn1
++ /data/data/com.termux/files/usr/libexec/termux/command-not-found fcn3
++ /data/data/com.termux/files/usr/libexec/termux/command-not-found fcn1
++ /data/data/com.termux/files/usr/libexec/termux/command-not-found fcn2

(remainder omitted for clarity).

shruggy · 03-28-2021, 02:02 PM

I guess your code cannot work. When you make dfn.sh be sourced asynchronously, it will be done in a separate process. The functions defined there will be exported to the children of that process, and you're trying to call them from its parent.

The FPATH approach used in Ksh may work though. See the autoload.v3 example for how it could be emulated in Bash.

michaelk · 03-28-2021, 08:18 PM

Code:

   . ./dfn.sh & wait $!

What is the purpose of using wait?

Remove the & wait $! from your source line and try running your program again.

pan64 · 03-29-2021, 01:07 AM

yes, would be nice to post the real dfn.sh.
As it was mentioned & and wait is completely useless here, you can safely remove them.

Actually defining functions in a script and sourcing that script (that was the dot dnf.sh) should work, so I guess the real script is not that simple. So please do not post just a few [random] lines from somewhere.....

otherwise probably:

Code:

declare -f fcn1
declare -f fcn2
...

may help

__John_L. · 03-29-2021, 02:29 PM

The '& wait $!" was added during my gyrations in an attempt to fix the problem. Apparently, it was the source of the problem. C'est la vie.

Thanks all.