Bash script not working when run outside terminal

Question

This script does not function properly when launched graphically (by double clicking script icon and selecting run), however, runs just fine if called from the terminal; will not save a file or load contents from an existing file. Please help! Thank you.

#!/bin/bash

# This script provides a simple and secure messaging system for users not
# familiar with gpg or using the terminal. The idea is to keep sensitive
# plaintext files off one's computer.

zenity --question --text="Select operation:" --ok-label="Compose" --cancel-label="Read"
if [[ $? == 0 ]]; then
    usr=$(zenity --entry --text="Sender Key ID:")
    rec=$(zenity --entry --text="Recipient Key ID:")
    pwd=$(zenity --password)
    outfile=$(zenity --file-selection --save --confirm-overwrite)
    zenity --text-info --editable | gpg -aseu $usr -r $rec --passphrase $pwd --cipher-algo AES256 -o $outfile
else
    infile=$(zenity --file-selection)
    pwd=$(zenity --password)
    gpg -d --passphrase $pwd $infile | zenity --text-info --height=600 --width=800
fi

C'mon, you ought to know by now that "does not function properly" is not a diagnosis... — Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams, Jun 21 '11 at 18:41
Sorry, I don't read minds on Tuesday. You'll have to actually tell us what's not working. — cledoux, Jun 21 '11 at 18:45
Sorry. If the script is run by double-clicking it then choosing run, it executes but will not save a file or load contents from an existing file. — Sharon, Jun 21 '11 at 18:56
When you're in the terminal, you're cd'ing to a directory? (I'm guessing). How does the double-click run know which directory to be in? Also, you might want to add `set -vx` at the top to see debugging and trace info. Good luck! — shellter, Jun 21 '11 at 19:12

Fredrik Pihl · Answer 1 · 2011-06-21T20:05:59.733

A probable cause for the error is that you have different environments when executing via an interactive shell (thus sourcing your .bashrc) and double-clicking (non-interactive, and not sourcing .bashrc

You can compare the environments by doing an env > from_terminal vs. env > double_click and then using diff or something similar.

You could also (after doing the above) source from_terminal in your script to see if it works with the terminal environment. As stated in one of the comments, set -vx is your friend.

Bash script not working when run outside terminal

1 Answers1