Set default user variable in csh scripting

Question

I am writing a csh shell script, run where the user is expected to pass a path into it as the $1 variable. How can I determine if $1 is missing and define a default value instead for it?

frayser · Accepted Answer · 2010-09-29 20:14:41Z

3

This is know to work on tcsh version 6.15.00

#! /bin/csh

if( $#argv == 0 ) then
        set filename="(default file)"
else
    set filename=$argv[1]
endif

echo "The file is $filename."

NOTE
There is no standard with csh as there is with the POSIX shell; but at least basic if-then-else and $#argv should be portable.

See Also
POSIX and Korn Shell Versus Other Shells
Csh Programming Considered Harmful
Bash

answered Sep 29, 2010 at 20:14

frayser

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1 Comment

Shuman Over a year ago

can I do this in one line ? because I need to use it in alias

codaddict · Accepted Answer · 2010-09-28 15:38:39Z

-1

You can do something like:

if [ $# -eq 0 ];then
        dir='default' # argument not passed use default.
else
        dir=$1        # argument passed..use it.
fi

# use $dir 
ls $dir

answered Sep 28, 2010 at 15:38

codaddict

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1 Comment

Dennis Williamson Over a year ago

That's Bourne and family. The question is tagged [csh].

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