Calculate variable, and output it to another variable

Question

The only calculator I know is bc. I want to add 1 to a variable, and output to another variable.

I got the nextnum variable from counting string in a file:

nextnum=`grep -o stringtocount file.tpl.php | wc -w`

Lets say the nextnum value is 1. When added with 1, it will become 2. To calculate, I run:

rownum=`$nextnum+1 | bc`

but got error:

1+1: command not found

I just failed in calculation part. I've tried changing the backtick but still not works. I have no idea how to calculate variables and output it to another variable.

Solution 1

The substring inside the ` ` must be a valid command itself:

rownum=`echo $nextnum+1 | bc`

But is preferable to use $( ) instead of ` `:

rownum=$(echo $nextnum+1 | bc)

But there is no need for bc, the shell is able to do integer arithmetic:

rownum=$((nextnum+1))

Or even simpler in bash and ksh:

((rownum=nextnum+1))

Solution 2

You can also use built in arithmetic in bash:

rownum=$((nextnum+1))

which would be slightly faster.

Solution 3

Absolutely right and complete the suggested solutions, just to mention the way it has to be done in former times when only the Bourne-Shell was available, that's the way it likes it:

rownum=`expr $nextnum + 1` 

Solution 4

I would use (as was mentioned before) rownum=$((nextnum+1)) or ((rownum=nextnum+1)) but if you prefer an standard command you can use the let command, like let rownum=$nextnum+1

View more solutions

Comments

[sunnysideup]

Have a look at unix.stackexchange.com/questions/40786/…

[Gilles 'SO- stop being evil']

Calling let a “standard command” is very misleading. $((…)) is standard (POSIX) syntax whereas let is a ksh (and bash, zsh) extension.