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1

This question already has an answer here:

I know it for one command but how to work with a sequence?

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marked as duplicate by Gilles Nov 27 at 22:15

This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.

2 Answers 2

up vote 8 down vote accepted

I put this as an answer, because cannot format it in the comment properly

foo() {
   echo foo
   echo bar
}

> foo
foo
bar

Imho, you have more freedom with a function than with alias. At least you can format it properly.

Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide

In a script, aliases have very limited usefulness. It would be nice if aliases could assume some of the functionality of the C preprocessor, such as macro expansion, but unfortunately Bash does not expand arguments within the alias body. [2] Moreover, a script fails to expand an alias itself within "compound constructs," such as if/then statements, loops, and functions. An added limitation is that an alias will not expand recursively. Almost invariably, whatever we would like an alias to do could be accomplished much more effectively with a function.

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U Rocks!!! @UVV –  sashi Nov 27 at 9:13
    
@UVV It doesn't create an alias. That is just a function which runs some commands when you call it. –  KasiyA Nov 27 at 9:34
    
@KasiyA as I said, imo with a function you have more flexibility. I extended my answer. –  UVV Nov 27 at 9:49
1  
@KasiyA As I see it, he wants to run two commands consequently. I suggested just another way to do this. –  UVV Nov 27 at 10:11
3  
@KasiyA: How is a function not as flexible as an alias? Generally, a function is far more flexible than an alias. Eg, a function can accept arguments. Aliases are fine for simple things, but otherwise the last sentence quoted above from the Bash man applies. Certainly, the question asked about aliases, and to be complete UVV should have shown how to do it with an alias, and then given a function-based answer, with the support of that Bash man quote. –  PM 2Ring Nov 27 at 10:49
up vote 5 down vote 
start cmd:> alias foo="echo foo; echo bar"
start cmd:> foo
foo
bar
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Thanks for ur Edit and quick reply !! –  sashi Nov 27 at 8:59
    
A function could also be used instead of alias. –  UVV Nov 27 at 9:05
    
can u explain that @UVV –  sashi Nov 27 at 9:06
3  
May be better as alias foo='{ echo foo; echo bar; } or even better as a function (to avoid confusion if one runs foo bar) as otherwise you'd get surprising results when doing cmd || foo or foo | bar or foo > file for instance. –  Stéphane Chazelas Nov 27 at 10:51

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