script help

[vjy]

I am trying to write a script. I am a newbie, so please excuse me if its easy.

I need to goto a folder, open a script file (same file every time). The file has different function calls, I need to comment all other function calls and just un-comment the one I want to use.

Eg

#call_1
call_2
#call_3
#call_4

it should always use the call_2 for this, but other programs or users can comment/uncomment these calls. So I need to make sure of it. Also if the calls are commented, then leave it alone, not add another #. Then save the file as the same file.

This script will be executed from a java class. So how can I go about this. Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.

[Kloschüssel]

You are riding the horse from the back. Provide a configuration interface in java, store the configuration before executing the script and evaluate that configuration in your script. That configuration would basically contain something like:

execute := call_2

Thus writing that information to a file your script can get that by parsing it somehow:

execute=`cat config`

And decide what to execute at this point:

if [ "$execute" -eq "call_2" ] then
   call_2
fi

[vjy]

Thanks for the reply. But I need to just call the script & update it. I cannot change the script other than commenting and uncommenting the functions.

Also eventually it would be a web app, so I need to ssh to the server, execute the script.

Any other suggestions.

Thanks,
Vijay

[Kloschüssel]

it is quite hard and really unsafe to comment/uncomment things as you write to the file you are executing. i would never suggest one to write a executable file (it should be chmod'ed to -w anyway)! The point is, you don't have to write / modify that script in any means. If it just includes functions that you can execute, write a script that includes the other script and call the right things as needed.

another option would be to write a wrapper script that includes your prior one and executes the right thing via parameter or configuration file:

# param 1 shall be the param to tell us what to execute
execute=$1
#include script
source ./script
#execute a function of the included script based on the parameters passed in
if [ "$execute" -eq "call_2" ] then
   call_2
fi

[vjy]

Thanks for the reply. I think its better to have a separate file instead of modifying the same file. I am talking with my manager to see if they are fine with 2 files.

Thanks again.