BASH script "if then" with multiple conditions

dohpaz · 05-01-2007, 06:55 PM

I am having difficulty figuring out how to use an if/then with multiple
conditions. What I have is:

Code:

if [ $count -gt 0 ] ; then

     ...do some stuff
fi

I want to change that to something like

Code:

if [ $count -gt 0 && $someVar != $var] ; then

     ...do some stuff
fi

This doesn't work.
Can someone show me how to do this in a bash script?

twantrd · 05-01-2007, 07:05 PM

Code:

if [ $count -gt 0 ] && [ $somevar != $var ]; then
...do something
fi

-twantrd

dohpaz · 05-01-2007, 07:13 PM

Twantrd thank you.

Zention · 05-02-2007, 12:51 AM

Now, this is why [[ ]] is the preferred form to get use to

if [[ $count -gt 0 && $someVar != $var ]]
then

...

fi

though of course the 2ndPoster is also correct.

OldManRiver · 02-19-2012, 05:32 AM

All,

According to Table 7-2 in the help at:

http://tldp.org/LDP/Bash-Beginners-G...ect_07_01.html

the correct syntax is:

AND:
[ EXPR1 -a EXPR2 ]

OR
[ EXPR1 -o EXPR2 ]

Cheers!

OMR

battler · 05-23-2012, 10:05 AM

The -a (&&) statement works great for two conditions. However I have four conditions how do I do this?

if [$statement1 = "state1" -a $statement2 = "state2" -a $statement3 = "state3" -a $statement4 = "state4"]

This doesnt work, only the first two conditions are being matched. How can I make this work?

custangro · 05-23-2012, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dohpaz

I am having difficulty figuring out how to use an if/then with multiple
conditions. What I have is:

Code:

if [ $count -gt 0 ] ; then

     ...do some stuff
fi

I want to change that to something like

Code:

if [ $count -gt 0 && $someVar != $var] ; then

     ...do some stuff
fi

This doesn't work.
Can someone show me how to do this in a bash script?

You can use the "-a" (and) or the -o (or) for this...

Code:

if [ $count -gt 0 -a $someVar != $var] ; then

     ...do some stuff
fi

--C

battler · 05-23-2012, 11:29 AM

custangro, thank you for your reply but this doesnt work with multiple conditions at least not if conditions > 2 .

Right now I use:

Quote:

if ( [[ $VAK = "NOS" ]] && [[ $TYPE = "LES" ]] && [[ $ONDERWERP = "BEVEILIGING" ]] && [[ $ACTIE = "UITVOEREN" ]] ); then
echo "UITVOEREN NOS LES firewall"

This works.

David the H. · 05-24-2012, 04:31 PM

battler, please use ***[code][/code] tags*** around your code and data, to preserve formatting and to improve readability. Please do not use quote tags, colors, or other fancy formatting.

It's also generally better to not reopen old threads unless you have something specific to add to that discussion. Otherwise, open up a new thread for your questions, and link back to the other if appropriate.

I don't like the idea of using so many conditions in a single test anyway. It would be more robust, readable, easily debuggable, and likely more efficient, to break it up into multiple nested tests instead.

Code:

if [[ $VAK = "NOS" && $TYPE = "LES" ]]; then

	if [[ $ONDERWERP = "BEVEILIGING" && $ACTIE = "UITVOEREN" ]]; then

		echo "UITVOEREN NOS LES firewall" 

	fi

fi

Of course, too many nested levels can be unwieldy as well, so two conditions per test seems like a good balance to me.

And as per the previous comments, when using bash or ksh, it's recommended to use ((..)) for numerical tests, and [[..]] for string/file tests and complex expressions. Avoid using the old [..] test unless you specifically need POSIX-style portability.

http://mywiki.wooledge.org/ArithmeticExpression
http://mywiki.wooledge.org/BashFAQ/031
http://wiki.bash-hackers.org/commands/classictest
http://wiki.bash-hackers.org/syntax/...nal_expression

Finally, depending on your exact requirements, it might also be a good idea to look into using case statements, either in combination with, or instead of, if tests.