Use environment variables in script?

[BradC78]

I'm trying to use an environment variable in a script, but it keeps returning a null value. The thing that is confusing me is that when I use it OUTSIDE the script, on the command line, it works fine. Why does the $USER variable work ok, but not the $ARCHIVE variable I created? I created it by typing: ARCHIVE="/home/brad/archives/"

The Script:

#!/bin/bash
echo $USER
echo $ARCHIVE

The Command Line:

$ echo $ARCHIVE
/home/brad/archives/
$ ./TEST
brad

$

Thanks!

[BradC78]

Ha! I just answered my own question. Wouldn't you know it, as soon as I post the question I figure it out. For anyone else who was wondering, I just changed

$ ARCHIVE="/home/brad/archives/"

to

$ export ARCHIVE="/home/brad/archives/"

Apparently this expands the scope so I can use it in my script.

[Cabhan]

More specifically, when you export a variable, it is accessible to other programs that are launched from the shell. When you don't export it, it is only available to the shell itself.

[BradC78]

Thanks for the info!