1EXPORT(1P)                 POSIX Programmer's Manual                EXPORT(1P)
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PROLOG

6       This  manual  page is part of the POSIX Programmer's Manual.  The Linux
7       implementation of this interface may differ (consult the  corresponding
8       Linux  manual page for details of Linux behavior), or the interface may
9       not be implemented on Linux.
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NAME

12       export - set the export attribute for variables
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SYNOPSIS

15       export name[=word]...
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17       export -p
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DESCRIPTION

21       The shell shall give the export attribute to the variables  correspond‐
22       ing  to  the specified names, which shall cause them to be in the envi‐
23       ronment of subsequently executed commands. If the name of a variable is
24       followed  by  =  word,  then the value of that variable shall be set to
25       word.
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27       The export special built-in shall support the Base  Definitions  volume
28       of IEEE Std 1003.1-2001, Section 12.2, Utility Syntax Guidelines.
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30       When  -p  is  specified,  export shall write to the standard output the
31       names and values of all exported variables, in the following format:
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34              "export %s=%s\n", <name>, <value>
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36       if name is set, and:
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39              "export %s\n", <name>
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41       if name is unset.
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43       The shell shall format the output, including the proper use of quoting,
44       so  that  it  is  suitable  for  reinput  to the shell as commands that
45       achieve the same exporting results, except:
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47        1. Read-only variables with values cannot be reset.
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49        2. Variables that were unset at the time they were output need not  be
50           reset  to  the  unset  state if a value is assigned to the variable
51           between the time the state was saved and  the  time  at  which  the
52           saved output is reinput to the shell.
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54       When no arguments are given, the results are unspecified.
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OPTIONS

57       See the DESCRIPTION.
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OPERANDS

60       See the DESCRIPTION.
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STDIN

63       Not used.
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INPUT FILES

66       None.
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ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

69       None.
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ASYNCHRONOUS EVENTS

72       Default.
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STDOUT

75       See the DESCRIPTION.
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STDERR

78       The standard error shall be used only for diagnostic messages.
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OUTPUT FILES

81       None.
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EXTENDED DESCRIPTION

84       None.
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EXIT STATUS

87       Zero.
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CONSEQUENCES OF ERRORS

90       Default.
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92       The following sections are informative.
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APPLICATION USAGE

95       None.
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EXAMPLES

98       Export PWD and HOME variables:
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101              export PWD HOME
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103       Set and export the PATH variable:
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106              export PATH=/local/bin:$PATH
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108       Save and restore all exported variables:
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111              export -p > temp-fileunset a lot of variables... processing. temp-file
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RATIONALE

114       Some  historical  shells  use  the  no-argument  case as the functional
115       equivalent of what is required here with  -p.  This  feature  was  left
116       unspecified  because  it  is not historical practice in all shells, and
117       some scripts may rely on the now-unspecified results on their implemen‐
118       tations.  Attempts  to  specify  the -p output as the default case were
119       unsuccessful in achieving consensus. The -p option was added  to  allow
120       portable access to the values that can be saved and then later restored
121       using; for example, a dot script.
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FUTURE DIRECTIONS

124       None.
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SEE ALSO

127       Special Built-In Utilities
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130       Portions of this text are reprinted and reproduced in  electronic  form
131       from IEEE Std 1003.1, 2003 Edition, Standard for Information Technology
132       -- Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX),  The  Open  Group  Base
133       Specifications  Issue  6,  Copyright  (C) 2001-2003 by the Institute of
134       Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc and The Open  Group.  In  the
135       event of any discrepancy between this version and the original IEEE and
136       The Open Group Standard, the original IEEE and The Open Group  Standard
137       is  the  referee document. The original Standard can be obtained online
138       at http://www.opengroup.org/unix/online.html .
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142IEEE/The Open Group                  2003                           EXPORT(1P)
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