Calling variables to run scripts

Question

I have a script that lists all files in a directory, lists them in alphabetical order, and places the number of the file before the filename.

#!/bin/bash

x=1
cd ~/bin

for f in *
do
    if [ -f $f ]; then
        echo "$x: $f"
        declare a$x=$f
        x=$(expr $x + 1)
    fi
done

read -p "What would you like to execute?: " num
$num

Output would be

1: file0
2: file1
3: file2

etc

Running $num will execute the command

a1

which is not a command. What I want to do is run what $a1 is equal to (ie file0). How can I do this?

chepner · Accepted Answer · 2012-09-30 14:33:55Z

1

It looks like you are implementing the select built-in command:

PS3="What would you like to execute?: "
select cmd in *; do
    $cmd
    break
done

answered Sep 30, 2012 at 14:33

chepner

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Comments

Janito Vaqueiro Ferreira Filho · Accepted Answer · 2012-09-30 04:29:16Z

0

You must use the eval command:

eval \$a0

Hope this helps =)

EDIT: Fixed missing backslash

edited Sep 30, 2012 at 4:29

answered Sep 30, 2012 at 3:31

Janito Vaqueiro Ferreira Filho

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2 Comments

Guvery Over a year ago

Thanks Janito! That worked, except I needed to modify it like: eval \$a$(echo $num)

Janito Vaqueiro Ferreira Filho Over a year ago

No problem, and thanks for the observation! Could you consider accepting the answer, please? =)

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