Hello,

I am writing a bash script to do a compare between 8 files and fine the common lowest multipler.

I can not use diff because of the file format and how it changes.

So I started off with an array loop

#!/bin/bash

declare -a masnew

index=0
cat file1 | while read line
do
masnew[$index]="$line"
let "index = $index + 1"
echo ${masnew[6]} ### used for test
done

echo ${masnew[6]} ### used for test

Ok ... now inside the loop the echo statement prints the 6th element of the array repeatedly as it should. Out side the loop it print " ". That is right a null value. The array is completely empty out side the loop ?

I having tried this on slackware 9.1, 9.0 and 8.1 with all the same results. I have tried different shells. I have even compiled bash from source.

I have not get this to work, I this for a project I am doing so it is important.

Any suggestions would help !!!!

Michael.

Hey, I saw your question and came up with this jibberish, in attempt to learn a bit of bash script:

The problem with your script may be 1)directly flipping the cat into loop's test w/out buffer 2)the incrementation of i in your while loop(could be a different num of elements than expected: with 5 line file 12 i's or so), or 3) bash is borked, inherently, when it comes to parsing within files--probably not 2, maybe a bit of both 3 and 1.

That stuff I wrote above seems to function to an extent, but when using 'larger' files like XF86Config it outputs some shady material. With a larger file(large maybe being line length instead of #of lines causing the problem in the string parts) there's an extra line or two about the files in my current directory; plus there's that confusing for/while read/line scope wierdness

Maybe a better solution is:

#!/bin/bash
perl parseStuff.pl

exit 0
-notaslacker

P.S. Could someone who understands bash scripting well test the above script on an xf86config or something and see if they get the same 'extra' lines? I'm curious about the possibility that it's a bug or goof on my system, rather than one of my average logic oversights. Removed comments to make it more readable.