[SOLVED] Shell scripting: Pressing 'Enter'

ReverendDangles · 05-23-2012, 01:55 PM

I have a shell script I'm making to automate some CIAO processes. It's working fine but I can't leave it alone to go work on other stuff b/c it queries me for parameter responses ('Enter','yes','no','filename',etc).
All of these parameters I have already defined in the script but the program the script is running produces these queries anyway. So bottom line is I just need to press 'Enter' whenever a query pops up.

Example:

Code:

user$ ./specextract.sh
...
...
Combine ungrouped output spectra and responses? (no): 
Create background ARF and RMF? (yes):  

                                                      
Running: specextract                                  
  Version:    14 February 2012

Is there a way to incorporate the responses into the script?

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you!

millgates · 05-23-2012, 01:59 PM

Hi, have you tried something like

Code:

yes "" | ./script

ReverendDangles · 05-23-2012, 03:21 PM

Yes I have and it didn't work.

I've looked around at other forums and they say something about using expect
but it looks like it wouldn't work for me.

millgates · 05-23-2012, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReverendDangles

Yes I have and it didn't work.

What does "didn't work" mean exactly?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReverendDangles

I've looked around at other forums and they say something about using expect
but it looks like it wouldn't work for me.

Why wouldn't it work for you? How long is the script? Can you post it (or relevant portions of it)?

ReverendDangles · 05-23-2012, 05:13 PM

Excuse me.
The script itself still runs but the prompts still pop up.

Code:

#!/bin/bash
#
# specextract script
#
# the .reg files are generated from using ds9 and 
# should be labeled src.reg and bkg.reg 
#

-----bunch of parameter definitions-----

. /usr/local/ciao/bin/ciao.bash

punlearn specextract  
 specextract infile="$EVT[sky=region($SRC)]" \
             outroot=simple  \
             bkgfile="$EVT[sky=region($BKG)]" \
             asp=$ASOL  \
             pbkfile=$PBK \
             mskfile=$MSK  \
             badpixfile=$BAD \
             weight=yes correct=no \
             grouptype=NUM_CTS binspec=15

output is:

Quote:

user$ yes "" | /<path>/specextract.sh
CIAO configuration is complete...
CIAO 4.4 Friday, December 2, 2011
bindir : /usr/local/ciao/bin
Combine ungrouped output spectra and responses? (no):
Create background ARF and RMF? (yes):

Running: specextract
Version: 14 February 2012

So I still need to give the program my response with the yes command.

punlearn is to restore the system default parameter values

millgates · 05-23-2012, 05:30 PM

Do you have an idea where do those prompts come from? From the ciao.bash script? From the specextract binary? Or somewhere in the "bunch of parameter definitions" part?
for example, if the parameters are read with something like

Code:

read -p "Do you want whatever?" -e -i "yes" variable

You may try giving the script the default answers, such as

Code:

echo -e "yes\nyes\nyes\nno\nwhatever" | ./specextract.sh

or

Code:

./specextract << _EOF_
yes
yes
yes
no
whatever
_EOF_

schneidz · 05-23-2012, 05:53 PM

if you have access to the script source can you replace the read commands with the value of the variable you want.

ReverendDangles · 05-23-2012, 05:59 PM

I could only find the binaries on my work computer so I cannot be
certain but I believe these are coming from the specextract binary.
I found the names of these two boolean switchesset them to 'no' and
'yes' respectively and that solved the problem.

I'm not sure if what I wanted to do was valid for this instance but
you actually helped me with another script I have so your knowledge
did not go unappreciated. Thank you very much!

David the H. · 05-24-2012, 05:11 PM

Well, it seems you've solved it, but in future cases you might also look into writing an expect script. That's its whole purpose -- automating user input.