using | column -t in a bash script

Question

I am attempting to use | column -t at eh end of a df command in a simple script, and I keep getting an error.

Here is my script:

#!/bin/sh
CMD=`df -Pi | column -t`
echo $CMD

this is the output that happens when I run it:

Filesystem Inodes IUsed IFree IUse% Mounted on /dev/mapper/rootvg-root 327680 149683 177997 46% / tmpfs 3851091 1 3851090 1% /dev/shm /dev/sda1 99568 62 99506 1% /boot /dev/mapper/rootvg-home 131072 1457 129615 2% /home /dev/mapper/rootvg-tmp 131072 51 131021 1% /tmp /dev/mapper/rootvg-local 65536 97 65439 1% /usr/local /dev/mapper/rootvg-var 131072 5359 125713 5% /var /dev/mapper/rootvg-log 132464 1535 130929 2% /var/log /dev/mapper/rootvg-audit 65536 16 65520 1% /var/log/audit /dev/mapper/optvg-opt 3276800 216348 3060452 7% /opt

It's all 1 big blob. I'm assuming I'm missing some wrapping characters to the actual command, but I haven't been able to find anything.

This is the output I am looking for from a script:

Filesystem                Inodes   IUsed   IFree    IUse%  Mounted         on
/dev/mapper/rootvg-root   327680   149683  177997   46%    /
tmpfs                     3851091  1       3851090  1%     /dev/shm
/dev/sda1                 99568    62      99506    1%     /boot
/dev/mapper/rootvg-home   131072   1457    129615   2%     /home
/dev/mapper/rootvg-tmp    131072   51      131021   1%     /tmp
/dev/mapper/rootvg-local  65536    97      65439    1%     /usr/local
/dev/mapper/rootvg-var    131072   5359    125713   5%     /var
/dev/mapper/rootvg-log    132464   1535    130929   2%     /var/log
/dev/mapper/rootvg-audit  65536    16      65520    1%     /var/log/audit
/dev/mapper/optvg-opt     3276800  216353  3060447  7%     /opt

You have to quote `$CMD`. – Benjamin W. Aug 15 '17 at 18:40 — Benjamin W., Aug 15 '17 at 18:40
double quotes worked, thank you sir! – theGlitchKing Aug 15 '17 at 18:45 — theGlitchKing, Aug 15 '17 at 18:45

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 15 '17 at 18:42

1

you need to wrap your echo in double quotations. So it respects the spaces,newlines, etc.

echo "$CMD"

answered Aug 15 '17 at 18:42

Matias Barrios

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keithpjolley · Accepted Answer · 2017-08-15T18:42:49.607

0

You are missing the pipe "|":

CMD=`df -Pi | column -t`
echo "$CMD"

But, something tells me this isn't what you wanted either.

edited Aug 15 '17 at 18:42

answered Aug 15 '17 at 18:40

keithpjolley

2,089
1
17
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That was a typo that's now fixed. – Benjamin W. Aug 15 '17 at 18:41
1

As @BenjaminW. said, include the double quotes around "$CMD" – keithpjolley Aug 15 '17 at 18:42
This worked, Thank you! – theGlitchKing Aug 15 '17 at 18:45
When I say this, I should say that the double quotes around the $CMD worked to give me what I needed. the pipe was already there, I just fat fingered the question. – theGlitchKing Aug 15 '17 at 19:00

using | column -t in a bash script

2 Answers2