How can I use `&` in an alias

Asked Aug 18 '17 at 13:38

Active Aug 22 '17 at 20:02

Viewed 116 times

I want to add an alias for nedit editor

alias ne='nedit' 
or 
alias ne='nedit $1'

works fine

but i want to add & at its end:

alias ne='nedit $1 &'

so that if i do

ne filename

It should open filename in nedit and run it in background

but I get an error

filename : command not found

How can I pass an argument and send the process to the background using aliases?

edited Aug 22 '17 at 20:02

Zanna

asked Aug 18 '17 at 13:38

ra-one

As far as I know, alias, just replaces “ne” with “nedit”, you can't pass arguments to it. $1 in alias ne='nedit $1' is just ignored, if you want to keep it in the background, how about ne filename &? – dessert Aug 18 '17 at 13:47
1

You have to use functions instead: function ne(){ nedit $1 & };. – Ravexina Aug 18 '17 at 13:49
@dessert that won't solve the purpose – ra-one Aug 20 '17 at 05:35
@ra-one You're right that it doesn't solve your problem, see Ravexina's comment for a solution, but it nevertheless answers the questions whether alias can be used with & at the end. – dessert Aug 20 '17 at 05:50
@Ravexina its working :) – ra-one Aug 20 '17 at 06:13
@dessert ya correct – ra-one Aug 20 '17 at 06:14

0 Answers0