Assigning variables to null

[Michael Campbell]

Folks

We need to have variables assigned called GL_SPOOLER during user sign-on for some Openspool print queues. Is it possible to assign these to null for some users who do not need all the useless output that their batch jobs create without causing errors in the batch jobs themselves?

Regards

Michael

[Jean-Louis Phelix]

hi,

I'm not sure to understand your problem, but :

A - any variable can be set to null, the problem will depend on what your jobs do with them

B - Be careful with '-u' option of shells. In this case, any non set variable reference will generate an error (unset parameter). Use 'set +u' to disable this feature.

Regards

[James R. Ferguson · Accepted solution]

Hi Michael:

To discard an output stream, redirect the output to '/dev/null'.

It would appear the you could assign this value to GL_SPOOLER assuming that this variable represents the output device:

GL_SPOOLER=/dev/null

Regards!

...JRF...

[Shannon Petry]

Im not sure where this variable is assigned at, but the logic would be as follows.

If the variable is et in /etc/profile (normal system variable location), then add a clause. First make a list of users who do not need the variable.

Then throw a condition into the bottom of the clause to see if the user is in the list.

I.E.
ME=/bin/who am I
NOGLSPOOL=/etc/no_gl_spooler.lst
for I in `cat $NOGLSPOOL` ; do
if [ "$ME" = "$I" ] ; then
GL_SPOOLER=""
else
echo "">>/dev/null
#avoids strange errors
fi
done

[Chuck J]

Why don't you just assign the variable to /dev/null:

GL_SPOOLER='/dev/null'

Chuck J