source not working from within shell script

Question

I have the following line in a shell script:

source bash_profile

It does not error, but it does not do anything that I can see either (It's not reloading my aliases like I expect)

However, from the same folder that the shell script is in, if I just run the command from the shell, it works like I expect.

I never change directories from within the script either. In fact, here is the script:

direction="to"
destination="local"
if [ -n $1 ]
    then
    direction=$1
fi
if [ -n $2 ]
    then
    destination=$2
fi

command=$direction$destination

if [ $command = "fromlocal" -o $command = "togit" ]
    then
    cp /c/Program\ Files/Git/etc/bash_profile /d/automata/flgitscripts/bash_profile
else
    cp /d/automata/flgitscripts/bash_profile /c/Program\ Files/Git/etc/bash_profile
fi

source /c/Program\ Files/Git/etc/bash_profile

I use the script to manage changes to and from the bash_profile and store them in a git repo.

Why isn't the source command working from within the shell script?

Are you sourcing the script too: source thescriptname? Otherwise the script is running in a new shell and the source bash_profile command is affect that new shell (which exits at the end of the script). — Bert F
– Bert F, Commented Dec 7, 2010 at 19:12
Put this as the answer and I will accept. I was running the script just by typing the script name "theScript.sh" instead of typing "source theScript.sh". Thanks! — cmcculloh
– cmcculloh, Commented Dec 7, 2010 at 19:24
Thanks @Dennis Williamson for the @ poke :-) @cmcculloh - comment posted as answer. Thanks. — Bert F
– Bert F, Commented Dec 7, 2010 at 21:38

Bert F · Accepted Answer · 2010-12-07 22:57:59Z

10

Are you sourcing the script too: source thescriptname? Otherwise the script is running in a new shell and the source bash_profile command affects that new shell (which exits at the end of the script).

edited Dec 7, 2010 at 22:57

answered Dec 7, 2010 at 21:36

Bert F

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