pass the return status of perl script to shell script

[chinnaga]

Hi,

I am calling a perl script to ftp files from one server to another server and I want the exit status of the perl script to be passed to the calling shell script so tht I can send success or failure mail from shell script

[Tim Nelson]

Not a perl expert but typically the end of a script would be completed by exit 1 (or some non zero )for a failure. You can then use the exit code with $? for error detection in the parent.

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi:

As with any process, exit with the value you wish to propagate to the caller.

In this case, your Perl script "knows" the status of the FTP action. For example:

...
$ftp->login() or die "Can't login!";
...

In this case, the 'die' causes the Perl script to exit with a non-zero return status.

If you want to handle other conditions and exit later, set a variable with some return code and simple 'exit($lastaction)'.

In any case, your shell wrapper can then test the '$?' variable for the result of the Perl script just like any command's return status.

Regards!

...JRF...

[Peter Nikitka]

Hi,

besides checking the variable $?, you can directly use something like the following in your shell script, when no further handling of the exit-status is required:

#!/usr/bin/sh
...
if my-perl-script.pl arg1 arg1;
then # further processing
print OK
else
print -u2 ERROR in xxx
exit 1
fi
...

mfG Peter

[Peter Nikitka]

Hi,
small additions:
- you could drop the ';' at the end of the 'if' condition
- you could pass $? to the calling environment of the shell script

#!/usr/bin/sh
...
if my-perl-script.pl arg1 arg1
then # further processing
print OK
else
print -u2 ERROR in xxx
exit $?
fi
...

mfG Peter

[Dennis Handly]

>Peter: you could drop the ';' at the end of the 'if' condition

Better yet, keep it and do:
if ... ; then

>you could pass $? to the calling environment of the shell script

I'm not sure this will work. The print will destroy $?.

my-perl-script.pl arg1 arg1
result=$?
if [ $result -eq 0]; then # further processing
print OK
else
print -u2 ERROR in xxx
exit $result
fi

[chinnaga]

Thanks a lot , it worked.

[Peter Nikitka]

Hi,

Dennis is right - either print or pass the exit status:

EITHET THIS:
#!/usr/bin/sh
...
if my-perl-script.pl arg1 arg1
then # further processing
print OK
else
print -u2 ERROR $? in xxx
exit 1
fi
...

OR THIS:
#!/usr/bin/sh
...
if my-perl-script.pl arg1 arg1
then # further processing
print OK
else
exit $?
fi
...

mfG Peter