How to create alias that takes a positional argument in Linux bash?












2














Lets say I have a bash command with a couple of options and the variable that I am interested in (e.g. filename):



my_cmd option1 option2 filename


I created an alias:



alias my_cmd_12="my_cmd option1 option2"


this allows me to remove typing all of the options. However there are some flags coming after the variable I am interested (e.g. filename):



my_cmd option1 option2 filename --flag1


How do I create an alias that takes all option an flags:



my_alias filename is equivalent to



my_cmd option1 option2 filename --flag1






linux command-line bash







share|improve this question



























    2














    Lets say I have a bash command with a couple of options and the variable that I am interested in (e.g. filename):



    my_cmd option1 option2 filename


    I created an alias:



    alias my_cmd_12="my_cmd option1 option2"


    this allows me to remove typing all of the options. However there are some flags coming after the variable I am interested (e.g. filename):



    my_cmd option1 option2 filename --flag1


    How do I create an alias that takes all option an flags:



    my_alias filename is equivalent to



    my_cmd option1 option2 filename --flag1






    linux command-line bash







    share|improve this question

























      2












      2








      2







      Lets say I have a bash command with a couple of options and the variable that I am interested in (e.g. filename):



      my_cmd option1 option2 filename


      I created an alias:



      alias my_cmd_12="my_cmd option1 option2"


      this allows me to remove typing all of the options. However there are some flags coming after the variable I am interested (e.g. filename):



      my_cmd option1 option2 filename --flag1


      How do I create an alias that takes all option an flags:



      my_alias filename is equivalent to



      my_cmd option1 option2 filename --flag1






      linux command-line bash







      share|improve this question













      Lets say I have a bash command with a couple of options and the variable that I am interested in (e.g. filename):



      my_cmd option1 option2 filename


      I created an alias:



      alias my_cmd_12="my_cmd option1 option2"


      this allows me to remove typing all of the options. However there are some flags coming after the variable I am interested (e.g. filename):



      my_cmd option1 option2 filename --flag1


      How do I create an alias that takes all option an flags:



      my_alias filename is equivalent to



      my_cmd option1 option2 filename --flag1






      linux command-line bash




      linux command-line bash






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked 2 hours ago









      motam79

      1649




      1649






















          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

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          3














          You can't do this with alias. Alias works by replacing string with another string. With this alias defined



          alias my_cmd_12="my_cmd option1 option2"


          my_cmd_12 filename --flag1 will expand to



          my_cmd option1 option2 filename --flag1


          But you want to invoke my_alias filename to get the same result. There is no way to replace my_alias with another string so --flag1 appears at the end.



          However a function should work:



          my_function() { my_cmd option1 option2 "$1" --flag1; }


          Note this is just a minimal solution tailored to your example. In general you can use more positional parameters or "$@", conditional statements etc., according to what exactly you need. Functions are way more flexible than aliases.



          More information here: In Bash, when to alias, when to script, and when to write a function?






          share|improve this answer





















          • For general "get to know bash better" - tldp.org -> guides -> look for "Bash", there are at least two that are worth the effort to read.
            – Hannu
            57 mins ago













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          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

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          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          3














          You can't do this with alias. Alias works by replacing string with another string. With this alias defined



          alias my_cmd_12="my_cmd option1 option2"


          my_cmd_12 filename --flag1 will expand to



          my_cmd option1 option2 filename --flag1


          But you want to invoke my_alias filename to get the same result. There is no way to replace my_alias with another string so --flag1 appears at the end.



          However a function should work:



          my_function() { my_cmd option1 option2 "$1" --flag1; }


          Note this is just a minimal solution tailored to your example. In general you can use more positional parameters or "$@", conditional statements etc., according to what exactly you need. Functions are way more flexible than aliases.



          More information here: In Bash, when to alias, when to script, and when to write a function?






          share|improve this answer





















          • For general "get to know bash better" - tldp.org -> guides -> look for "Bash", there are at least two that are worth the effort to read.
            – Hannu
            57 mins ago


















          3














          You can't do this with alias. Alias works by replacing string with another string. With this alias defined



          alias my_cmd_12="my_cmd option1 option2"


          my_cmd_12 filename --flag1 will expand to



          my_cmd option1 option2 filename --flag1


          But you want to invoke my_alias filename to get the same result. There is no way to replace my_alias with another string so --flag1 appears at the end.



          However a function should work:



          my_function() { my_cmd option1 option2 "$1" --flag1; }


          Note this is just a minimal solution tailored to your example. In general you can use more positional parameters or "$@", conditional statements etc., according to what exactly you need. Functions are way more flexible than aliases.



          More information here: In Bash, when to alias, when to script, and when to write a function?






          share|improve this answer





















          • For general "get to know bash better" - tldp.org -> guides -> look for "Bash", there are at least two that are worth the effort to read.
            – Hannu
            57 mins ago
















          3












          3








          3






          You can't do this with alias. Alias works by replacing string with another string. With this alias defined



          alias my_cmd_12="my_cmd option1 option2"


          my_cmd_12 filename --flag1 will expand to



          my_cmd option1 option2 filename --flag1


          But you want to invoke my_alias filename to get the same result. There is no way to replace my_alias with another string so --flag1 appears at the end.



          However a function should work:



          my_function() { my_cmd option1 option2 "$1" --flag1; }


          Note this is just a minimal solution tailored to your example. In general you can use more positional parameters or "$@", conditional statements etc., according to what exactly you need. Functions are way more flexible than aliases.



          More information here: In Bash, when to alias, when to script, and when to write a function?






          share|improve this answer












          You can't do this with alias. Alias works by replacing string with another string. With this alias defined



          alias my_cmd_12="my_cmd option1 option2"


          my_cmd_12 filename --flag1 will expand to



          my_cmd option1 option2 filename --flag1


          But you want to invoke my_alias filename to get the same result. There is no way to replace my_alias with another string so --flag1 appears at the end.



          However a function should work:



          my_function() { my_cmd option1 option2 "$1" --flag1; }


          Note this is just a minimal solution tailored to your example. In general you can use more positional parameters or "$@", conditional statements etc., according to what exactly you need. Functions are way more flexible than aliases.



          More information here: In Bash, when to alias, when to script, and when to write a function?







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 1 hour ago









          Kamil Maciorowski

          23.6k155074




          23.6k155074












          • For general "get to know bash better" - tldp.org -> guides -> look for "Bash", there are at least two that are worth the effort to read.
            – Hannu
            57 mins ago




















          • For general "get to know bash better" - tldp.org -> guides -> look for "Bash", there are at least two that are worth the effort to read.
            – Hannu
            57 mins ago


















          For general "get to know bash better" - tldp.org -> guides -> look for "Bash", there are at least two that are worth the effort to read.
          – Hannu
          57 mins ago






          For general "get to know bash better" - tldp.org -> guides -> look for "Bash", there are at least two that are worth the effort to read.
          – Hannu
          57 mins ago




















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