On Mon, 2003-09-15 at 09:37, John Clarke wrote:
[nice summary snipped]
> To add a new directory into $PATH:
>
> PATH=$PATH:/new/directory
> export PATH
>
> or:
>
> PATH=/new/directory:$PATH
> export PATH
>
> depending upon whether you want it to be searched first or last.
I've found it best to drop PATH changes into /etc/profile.d.
For example /etc/profile.d/openoffice.sh
#
# Add OpenOffice Betas to command search path before production
binaries.
if [ -r /etc/local/addpath.sh ]
then
. /etc/local/addpath.sh
[ -d /usr/local/OpenOffice.org1.1.0/program ] && \
PATH=`addpath front "/usr/local/OpenOffice.org1.1.0/program"
"${PATH}"`
export PATH
fi
where addpath is
#!/bin/bash -c 'echo Use source rather than running && exit 1'
#
# addpath.sh -- define addpath(), which adds an element to a path.
#
# addpath()
# Add an element to a path, but only if that element is not already in
the path.
# $1 = "front" or "rear", case-sensitive.
# $2 = element.
# $3 = path.
# Returns new path.
#
# Examples:
# PATH=`addpath front "/sbin" "${PATH}"`
# CLASSPATH=`addpath rear "jext.jar" "${CLASSPATH}"`
function addpath() {
# Field seperator for paths is a colon, this should be local
# to this function or it will have side effects upon the caller.
local IFS=":"
# Set (value 0) if element $2 is found in path #3, unset (value 1)
otherwise.
local found=1
# Current element being examined.
local p
# Check parameters.
[ -z "${1}" ] && return 1
[ -z "${2}" ] && return 1
# Trivial case.
# Path $3 is empty, so element $2 will be sole element in new path.
[ -z "${3}" ] && echo "${2}" && return 0
# Check for trailing parameters, these might be present through a
# error in failing to quote a path with spaces.
[ ${#} -ne 3 ] && return 1
# Set found if element $2 is in path $3
for p in ${3}
do
if [ "${p}" == "${2}" ]
then
found=0
fi
done
# Is element already in path?
if [ $found -eq 0 ]
then
# Yes. Path $3 is unaltered.
echo "${3}"
else
# No. Add element $2 to front or rear of path $3.
if [ "${1}" == "front" ]
then
echo "${2}:${3}"
elif [ "${1}" == "rear" ]
then
echo "${3}:${2}"
else
# $1 is not front or rear.
return 1
fi
fi
return 0
}
# EOF
--
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