returning a pathname from a function

returning a pathname from a function

[Allen Belk]

Zsh hackers,
    I am attempting to return a path name from the following function.

prep_directories()
{
   output_directory="/var/adm/backup/${1}_${2}"
   backup_log="${output_directory}/backup.log"
   backup_lis="${output_directory}/backup.lis"
   return $backup_log,$backup_lis
}

prep_directories 20000330 WEEKLY


Executing this script results in the following error.

    prep_directories: bad math expression: unbalanced stack [75]

I assume it has something to do with the slashes (/) found in the string
that it is attempting to return.

Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Allen Belk

 | Allen Belk, Systems Manager
 | Office of Technology Resources
 | University of Southern Mississippi
 | allen.belk@usm.edu  601.266.6013

RE: returning a pathname from a function

[Andrej Borsenkow]

> prep_directories()
> {
>    output_directory="/var/adm/backup/${1}_${2}"
>    backup_log="${output_directory}/backup.log"
>    backup_lis="${output_directory}/backup.lis"
>    return $backup_log,$backup_lis
> }
>
> prep_directories 20000330 WEEKLY
>
>
> Executing this script results in the following error.
>
>     prep_directories: bad math expression: unbalanced stack [75]
>


You cannot return string. return expects arithmetic expression as
status. I agree, that message is a bit weird ... what exact vesion do
you have?

What you try to do? Either output result using echo or print builtin:

	print $backup_log,$backup_lis

in this case you can do something like

	DIRS=$(prep_directories 20000330 WEEKLY)

or you can set parameter explicitly in function:

	DIRS=$backup_log,$backup_lis

-andrej