5.8.6 Calling an external job definition script file from an executing job definition script

You use the #-adsh_script command to insert into the currently executing job definition script file the contents of an external job definition script file that is in existence at the start of JP1/Advanced Shell.

Unlike with the . (dot) command, this standard shell command expands into the calling job definition script the contents of a specified external script that exists at the time JP1/Advanced Shell starts. JP1/Advanced Shell treats the calling job definition script containing the expanded job definition script as a single job definition script and performs syntax analyses on it.

The following shows an example of an external script definition and a calling job definition script.

/scripts/exScript.ash (contents when the job starts)

#-adsh_step_start exS1
  exUap01
#-adsh_step_end
 
#-adsh_step_start exS2
  exUap01
#-adsh_step_end

script.ash

#!/opt/jp1as/bin/adshexec
#-adsh_job JOB001
 
uap01
 
#-adsh_script /scripts/exScript.ash
 
uap2

The contents of script.ash are equivalent to the following job definition script:

#!/opt/jp1as/bin/adshexec
#-adsh_job JOB001
 
uap01
 
#-adsh_step_start exS1    <--The six lines starting with this line constitute the expanded exScript.ash.
  exUap01
#-adsh_step_end
 
#-adsh_step_start exS2
  exUap01
#-adsh_step_end
 
uap2

The following table describes the differences between the . (dot) command and the #-adsh_script command.

Table 5‒36: Differences between the `.` (dot) command and the #-adsh_script command
No.	Comparison item		`.` (dot) command	#-adsh_script command
1	Handling of extended script commands inside the external job definition script		Handled as comments.	Handled as extended script commands.
2	Output to script images		Not output.	Output
3	Operation when relative paths are specified		Allows specification of relative paths. However, this command resolves the paths by referencing the value of the `PATH` environment variable.	Allows specification of relative paths. However, this command interprets the specified paths as being relative to the current directory used when `adshexec` started; it does not reference the value of the `PATH` environment variable.
4	Maximum number of commands permitted in a job		No limit	Maximum of 4,095
5	Command execution from within the external job definition script		Executable	Executable. However, the command cannot be executed by calling the same external job definition script recursively.
6	Specification of arguments for the external job definition script		Permitted	Not permitted
7	CUI debugger	Setting breakpoints in the external job definition script by using the `break` command	Cannot set breakpoints.	Can set breakpoints.
8		Displaying information about the functions defined in the external job definition script by using the `info` `function` command	Cannot display information. However, the information can be displayed once the function definition is completed within the external job definition script.	Can display information.
9		Displaying the contents of the external job definition script by using the `list` command	Cannot display the contents.	Can display the contents.
10		Information displayed when execution of the job definition script is stopped	Line numbers: Can be displayed. Lines in the source file: Cannot be displayed. Command strings: Can be displayed.	Line numbers: Can be displayed. Lines in the source file: Can be displayed. Command strings: Can be displayed.

Organization of this subsection

(1) Specifying relative paths
(2) Specifying absolute paths

(1) Specifying relative paths

If the relative path of an external script is specified, JP1/Advanced Shell assumes the current directory used when adshexec started, regardless of the processing of the previous job definition script.

A path relative to any other directory cannot be specified. To use such a path, you must specify its absolute path.

The following show a specification example:

Current directory when the adshexec command starts: /scripts

#/opt/jp1as/bin/adshexec
cd /work
#-adsh_script ex_script.ash      <-- /scripts/ex_script.ash is executed.

This example uses the #-adsh_script command to execute the external script file /scripts/ex_script.ash. The current directory was changed by the cd command on the immediately preceding line, but this change has no effect on the path of the external script file that is called.

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(2) Specifying absolute paths

If you want to execute /work/ex_script.ash, specify an absolute path as shown in the following.

Current directory when the adshexec command starts: /scripts

#/opt/jp1as/bin/adshexec
cd /work
#-adsh_script /work/ex_script.ash      <-- /work/ex_script.ash is executed.

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