How to Run a shell script from Perl script in Parent shell?

Hi Perl/UNIX experts,

I have a problem in running a shell script from my perl script (auto.pl).

I run the perl script using
perl auto.pl
from the shell prompt

The shell script picks the files in "input" folder and procesess it.

The shell script blue.sh has this code.

export JAVA_HOME=/opt/j2sdk1.4.2_02
export PATH=${JAVA_HOME}/bin:${PATH}
export MANPATH=${JAVA_HOME}/man:${MANPATH}
export RUNPATH=:.:/export/home/lib/activation.jar:/export/home/lib/commons-dbcp-1.1.jar:/export/home/lib/jdbc2_0-stdext.jar:/export/home/lib/libmqjbnd05.so:/export/home/lib/postcard.jar
export RUNPATH=$RUNPATH:/export/home/lib/ant.jar:/export/home/lib/commons-logging-api.jar:/export/home/lib/jms.jar:/export/home/lib/log4j-1.2.8.jar:/export/home/lib/providerutil.jar
export 
java -classpath $RUNPATH placeOrders ./input/

I tried to run this in perl script using
exec("blue.sh")
exec("./blue.sh")
`./blue.sh`
`sh blue.sh`

I get this error - ./blue: JAVA_HOME=/opt/j2sdk1.4.2_02: is not an identifier

But if i run it manually from the shell

./blue.sh

the script runs fine.

I guess the problem is because perl spawns a new shell.

Have you tried putting

#!/bin/sh

at the start of the script?

Yes. I did that. Still i get the same error.
Moreover, I can't run the shell script manually also.

$ ./blue.sh
./blue.sh: JAVA_HOME=/opt/j2sdk1.4.2_02: is not an identifier

$ sh blue.sh
blue.sh: JAVA_HOME=/opt/j2sdk1.4.2_02: is not an identifier

It does not like your exports.

Try

VARIABLE=value
export VARIABLE

Try ksh instead of sh

#!/bin/ksh

Tried this...It does nto help. Still same error.

Any other option? Even if you are more than 50% sure please reply. It doesn't hurt trying.

What shell are you running normally?

What is it's complete path?

Try using that in the "#!....." first line.

Then switch to sh, by typing "sh", and then try and run the script.

It is bash shell.
But when I use "#!..." in the first line, it throws an error...always

Am not able to find the reason.

I tried #!/bin/sh and #!/bin/ksh

It doesn't work. What else do i need to try?

Hey, it's just a wild guess,...

try

#!/bin/bash

Try to exec the shell and pass the name of the script as an argument to the shell (not exec the script directly).

Did not work

Hi Neo,
Can you tell me how to do this?

/bin/ksh -c "cmd......."

Try something like (depending on your shell):

exec("/bin/ksh -c /full/path/to/blue.sh");

...or something like that, depending on the shell, path and syntax.

Hi All,

I tried

`bash blue.sh`

It works. Thanks all for your suggestions.

This works too! Thanks Neo!

I'm encountering a similar problem (but with ksh not sh). Using hifake's original example substituting blue.sh with blue.ksh, I'm wanting to 'dot' in the values, and have them available to the perl process.
ie.
blue.ksh

export JAVA_HOME=/opt/j2sdk1.4.2_02
export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH

In perl I need to execute the above and be able to run

printf "Value of JAVA_HOME is %s\n", $ENV{JAVA_HOME};

This is similar to running
. ./blue.ksh
At a command prompt, or within a ksh script.

Any Ideas/suggestions?

Thanks...