Bug#301433: bash: variables revert to original values when exiting loop involving read

[Norman H. Azadian]

Package: bash
Version: 2.05b-24
Severity: important

The following script illustrates the problem:

        #!/bin/sh

        val=initial
        cat <<-EOF | while read ;do
                first line
                second line
                EOF
            val=$REPLY
            echo "val is '$val'"
        done
        echo "final val is '$val'"

When I run this, I get:

        val is 'first line'
        val is 'second line'
        final val is 'initial'

I suspect this only happens with read, but I'm not sure.


-- System Information:
Debian Release: 3.1
  APT prefers testing
  APT policy: (500, 'testing')
Architecture: i386 (i686)
Kernel: Linux 2.6.11A
Locale: LANG=C, LC_CTYPE=C

Versions of packages bash depends on:
ii  base-files                  3.1.0        Debian base system miscellaneous f
ii  libc6                       2.3.2.ds1-18 GNU C Library: Shared libraries an
ii  libncurses5                 5.4-4        Shared libraries for terminal hand
ii  passwd                      1:4.0.3-30.4 Change and administer password and

-- no debconf information


-- 
To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]