Variable alias in bash

Question

I want to create an alias in bash as follows:

 alias tail_ls="ls -l $1 | tail" 

Thus, if someone is like:

 tail_ls /etc/ 

it will only display the last 10 files in the directory.

But $1 doesn't seem to work for me. Is there any way to introduce variables into bash.

Answer 1

I would create a function for this, not an alias, and then export it, for example:

 function tail_ls { ls -l "$1" | tail; } export -f tail_ls 

Note -f switch to export : it tells you that you are exporting a function. Put this in your .bashrc and you're good to go.

Answer 2

The @ maxim-sloyko solution does not work, but if the following:

• In ~ / .bashrc add:

   sendpic () { scp "$@" [e-mail]:/www/misc/Pictures/; } 

• Save the file and reload

   $ source ~/.bashrc 

• And do:

   $ sendpic filename.jpg 

source: http://www.linuxhowtos.org/Tips%20and%20Tricks/command_aliases.htm

Answer 3

 alias tail_ls='_tail_ls() { ls -l "$1" | tail ;}; _tail_ls' 

Answer 4

tail_ls() { ls -l "$1" | tail; }

Answer 5

If you use the Fish shell (from http://fishshell.com ) instead of bash, they write functions a little differently.

You need to add something like this to your ~/.config/fish/config.fish , which is equivalent to your ~/.bashrc

 function tail_ls ls -l $1 | tail end 

Answer 6

You can define $1 with set , and then use your alias as intended:

 $ alias tail_ls='ls -l "$1" | tail' $ set mydir $ tail_ls