redirect stdout to a varible

Furlinastis · 12-06-2005, 01:54 AM

I want to time stamp each output to a log file in a bash script like so:

#!/bin/bash
date [operator] variable
echo $variable': Something happened' >> log

Is there a way to redirect the output of date to a variable? Or is there a better way to accomplish this?

keefaz · 12-06-2005, 04:12 AM

With bash you can use $() syntax or inversed quotes for other shells

Code:

time=$(date <date options...>)
echo "$time: Something happened" >> log

Furlinastis · 12-06-2005, 04:38 AM

oh ok, thanks

bigearsbilly · 12-07-2005, 06:01 AM

I usually do something like this:

Code:

LOG_WITH_APP_AND_TIME()
{
   exec > $LOGFILE    # redirect to logfile?

    time=$(date +%H:%M )
    if [ $# -gt 0 ];then 
 /usr/bin/echo [${0##*/}-$time] $@
 else
 /usr/bin/echo [${0##*/}-$time]
 fi
  
}


alias LOG=LOG_WITH_APP_AND_TIME

if you want all output to a log file
call the script with the log file name scrip 2&1> >> logfile.

best not to sprinkle echo > file type things everywhere.