when you change \u to `whoami`, you get the 0 value because you are executing `whoami` everytime you get a prompt, i think. `whoami` has an exit code of 0, successful, so that's what goes into $?. \u, \h, \w, \W, etc aren't executed, they're properties of the shell at that time. that's the way i understand it, anyway. you can get some weird stuff in there. I have old bash laying around, and all $? gives me is the exit code of the export PS1... command, and it never changes. -mandi On Fri, 4 Aug 2000, Subba Rao wrote: > > My PS1 prompt has the following string, > > PS1='($?)\u@\h:\w =>' > > In this case, when my command fails the BASH variable $? value is displayed > in my prompt. What is happening is that a command return value stays there > until an new command is issued. A newline for the shell will still return the > previous $? value. $? value is never reset until a new command is issued. > > (0)subb3@myhost:~ => > (0)subb3@myhost:~ => lssdfh <== This is no command > (258)subb3@myhost:~ => > (258)subb3@myhost:~ => > (258)subb3@myhost:~ => > (258)subb3@myhost:~ => ls > <file listing> > (0)subb3@myhost:~ => > > When I change the PS1 sring to, > > PS1='($?)`whoami`@\h:\w =>' > > The return value for $? is immediately displayed in the next prompt. > > (0)subb3@myhost:~ => > (0)subb3@myhost:~ => lssdfh > (258)subb3@myhost:~ => > (0)subb3@myhost:~ => > (0)subb3@myhost:~ => ls > <file listing> > (0)subb3@myhost:~ => ls o > ls: o: No such file or directory > (1)subb3@myhost:~ => > > In BASH, why does the "\u" and "whoami" make a big difference for the $? value in > PS1 string? The BASH version is 2.04. > > -- > > Subba Rao > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://pws.prserv.net/truemax/ > > => Time is relative. Here is a new way to look at time. <= > http://www.smcinnovations.com > > > _______________________________________________ > techtalk mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.linux.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/techtalk > _______________________________________________ techtalk mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.linux.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/techtalk
