x=1
c1=string1
c2=string2
c3=string3
echo $c1
string1
I'd like to have the output be string1 by using something like:
echo $(c($x))
So later in the script I can increment the value of x and have it output string1, then string2 and string3.
Can anyone point me in the right direction?
See the Bash FAQ: How can I use variable variables (indirect variables, pointers, references) or associative arrays?
To quote their example:
realvariable=contents
ref=realvariable
echo "${!ref}" # prints the contents of the real variable
To show how this is useful for your example:
get_c() { local tmp; tmp="c$x"; printf %s "${!tmp}"; }
x=1
c1=string1
c2=string2
c3=string3
echo "$(get_c)"
If, of course, you want to do it the Right Way and just use an array:
c=( "string1" "string2" "string3" )
x=1
echo "${c[$x]}"
Note that these arrays are zero-indexed, so with x=1 it prints string2; if you want string1, you'll need x=0.
Try this:
eval echo \$c$x
Like others said, it makes more sense to use array in this case.
printf %q) is quite dangerous from a security perspective, particularly if your script is handling any data which could potentially be made by malicious or untrusted processes. (Even a filename could be used to inject malicious content, if that's what you were looping over).if you have bash 4.0, you can use associative arrays.. Or you can just use arrays. Another tool you can use is awk
eg
awk 'BEGIN{
c[1]="string1"
c[2]="string2"
c[3]="string3"
for(x=1;x<=3;x++){
print c[x]
}
}'
man bash.