Sharing a list of files containing spaces in multiple scripts

Question

I have a list of a number of filenames (containing spaces) which I want to use in multiple scripts.

script1:
myprog.py my favourite files

script2:
for f in my favourite files

I have tried using an environment variable but that fails due to the spaces. How can I do this?

Answer 1

Let's assume a file that has your list in it.

$: cat lst
this file.txt
my favorite.csv
that other.mpg

For simplicity, here's my version of one of your programs.

$: cat script1
for f in "$@"; do echo "$f"; done

So if I understand you correctly, you are calling it this way, and getting this sort of wrong result:

$: ./script1 this file.txt my favorite.csv that other.mpg
this
file.txt
my
favorite.csv
that
other.mpg

First, read up on proper quoting.

$: ./script1 "this file.txt" "my favorite.csv" "that other.mpg"
this file.txt
my favorite.csv
that other.mpg

and try using arrays.

$: mapfile -t ary < ./lst
$: ./script1 "${ary[@]}"
this file.txt
my favorite.csv
that other.mpg

This works inside the script too. Try just passing name of the file that has the list, and let your program read it.