'tput col' number changes in bash script

**octius4u** · June 19th, 2014

Why is the "tput col" number changing while running bash script in terminal emulator?

I seem to have run into new situation and I'm hoping someone can explain this to me please.

I know it can change if I increase or decrease the terminal emulator via mouse for example.
However i notices that the number changes to 80 no matter if I'm in terminator or xfce4-terminal
and only after a redirect to a file such as when i make copies of stderr. Why exactly 80 and not 86, 107 etc.
I'm using Xubuntu 14.04 on a 1920x1080 resolution.

In the script I wish to output a space in the amount of "tput col" and it outputs only 80 which troughs of the beginning of a new line.
like in this function

Code:

#!/bin/bash
function Check_AccuracYN {              # 06 - SIX                              ## 
##################################################################################
# Correct order is FIRST [$1 = Y/N Answer] and SECOND [ $2 = Question]
AccuracyAnswer=""; AccuracyAnswer="$1"
AccuracyQuestion=""; AccuracyQuestion="$2"

if  [[ "$AccuracyAnswer" != [y/n] ]]; then echo "a"; echo "b"; fi
while [[ "$AccuracyAnswer" != [y/n] ]]; do
    echo -e "\e[2A$WrongInput"
    MaxRowLengh=$(tput cols) && printf '%0.s ' $(seq 1 $MaxRowLengh)
    echo -en "\e[1A$AccuracyQuestion"; read AccuracyAnswer
done
##################################################################################
};

The goal would be not to create a endless amount of additional lines with repeated error messages.
By the way this code does work properly when tested by it self.

Thanks for your help.

**octius4u** · June 19th, 2014

Before starting the script "tput col" does show the correct amount of columns,
but in the script it changes at the point of the first redirect. And after exiting
the script "tput col" shoes the correct number again. Could 80 columns be the
standard amount in a (text) file?

**Vaphell** · June 19th, 2014

http://programmers.stackexchange.com...for-code-width

punchcards had 80 cols, then teletypes went with the same number, then video terminals did the same, then terminal emulators we use today followed. Long story short you could say 80 is the default value because legacy. When you redirect, the physical window with modified dimensions is not the target so it's not in the picture and fallback to the default occurs.

**octius4u** · June 19th, 2014

Thanks for the info Vaphell. I will take some time to get more familiar with the subject.
And I will also have to find an different way to measure the windows width or column number.
Especially when one could maximize the windows while the script is active.
In that case a variable value number could became incorrect.

**Vaphell** · June 19th, 2014

what problem are you trying to solve exactly?

**octius4u** · June 19th, 2014

It's good to know one can count on Vaphell/UbuntuForums. Thanks for the explanation and for your offer.
However I am glad to inform that I've managed to solve my problem.
I guess a good nights rest, gives the brain ideas.

This is the method I used to solve my problem, without using 'tput col' at all, and the result is
just right.

Code:

function Check_AccuracYN {              # 06 - SIX                              ##
##################################################################################
# Correct order is FIRST [$1 = Y/N Answer] and SECOND [ $2 = Question]
AccuracyAnswer=""; AccuracyAnswer="$1"
AccuracyQuestion=""; AccuracyQuestion="$2"
if  [[ "$AccuracyAnswer" != [y/n] ]]; then echo ""; echo ""; fi
while [[ "$AccuracyAnswer" != [y/n] ]]; do
    echo -e "\e[2A$WrongInput"
    MaxLengh=$((${#AccuracyAnswer}+${#AccuracyQuestion}+2)); printf '%0.s ' $(seq 1 $MaxLengh)
    echo -en "\r$AccuracyQuestion"; read AccuracyAnswer
done
##################################################################################
};