Home BASH: How to define a variable with another variable which is part of the strings name

Questions

BASH: How to define a variable with another variable which is part of the strings name

July 19, 2023

I am trying to create multiple variables but using a numeric counter as part of the variables sting name. All my attempts so far have been futile. Any help would be appreciated.

#!/bin/bash


Colors=( red    \
         blue   \
         green  \
         yellow )

declare i=0
declare j=1

while (( ${j} < $(( ${#Colors[*]} + 1 )) ))
do
  set Variable${j}=${Colors[i]}
  echo   " Tried to create a variable named [ Variable${j} ] and load it with the value [ ${Colors[i]} ]"
  printf " The value of [ Variable${j} ], is [ %s ]\n\n" Variable${j}
  (( j = j + 1 ))
  (( i = i + 1 ))
done

This is what the script currently outputs.

./test.sh

Tried to create a variable named [ Variable1 ] and load it with the value [ red ]
The value of [ Variable1 ], is [ Variable1 ]

Tried to create a variable named [ Variable2 ] and load it with the value [ blue ]
The value of [ Variable2 ], is [ Variable2 ]

Tried to create a variable named [ Variable3 ] and load it with the value [ green ]
The value of [ Variable3 ], is [ Variable3 ]

Tried to create a variable named [ Variable4 ] and load it with the value [ yellow ]
The value of [ Variable4 ], is [ Variable4 ]

Tried ( quotes, set variable ) and nothing so far worked. If I hard code the variable name, no problem.

>Solution :

Inside your loop:

eval Variable${j}=${Colors[i]}
echo   " Tried to create a variable named [ Variable${j} ] and load it with the value [ ${Colors[i]} ]"
eval echo " The value of [ Variable${j} ], is [ \$Variable${j} ]"

Be careful out there.