How to update prompt PS1 in bash scripts

Question

I would like to update the bash prompt inside a script. Essentially, I have to use a VPN to remotely work on another computer and would like it to get reflected by the bash prompt. Unfortunately whatever I change in PS1 is not update in the bash-shell.

A part of my script that changes PS1 is the following:

    # ...

    __RESULT=${__RESULT,,} 

    # CONDITION: set prompt    
    PS1='\[\e]0;\u@\h: \w\a\]${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}\[\033[01;32m\]\u@\h\[\033[00m\]:\[\033[01;34m\]\w\[\033[00m\]\$ '
    case $__RESULT in    
        *enabled* | *enable* | *connected* | *connect*)    
            PS1='(gp on) \[\e]0;\u@\h: \w\a\]${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}\[\033[01;32m\]\u@\h\[\033[00m\]:\[\033[01;34m\]\w\[\033[00m\]\$ '    
            ;;
    esac
    export PS1

However, it's not working. I found another question, which suggests setting PROMPT_COMMAND. I have followed the suggestions but it is neither working. Also, I am afraid this variable might already be used by another application and I wouldn't really like to overwrite it. So the second version:

    __RESULT=${__RESULT,,}

    # CONDITION: set prompt
    function gp_set_prompt {
        PS1='\[\e]0;\u@\h: \w\a\]${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}\[\033[01;32m\]\u@\h\[\033[00m\]:\[\033[01;34m\]\w\[\033[00m\]\$ '
        case $__RESULT in
            *enabled* | *enable* | *connected* | *connect*)
                PS1='(gp on) \[\e]0;\u@\h: \w\a\]${debian_chroot:+($debian_chroot)}\[\033[01;32m\]\u@\h\[\033[00m\]:\[\033[01;34m\]\w\[\033[00m\]\$ '
                ;;
        esac
        export PS1
        set_conda
    }    
    export PROMPT_COMMAND=gp_set_prompt

At this point, I am not quite sure what else I can do. Any help? Thanks.

Answer 1

I stuck it in my .bashrc as an alias

...
alias shortprompt="export PS1=\"\\[\\e[1;36m\\]\\W\\[\\e[1m\\] ~> \\[\\e[0m\\]\""
alias longprompt="export PS1=\"\\[\\e[1;36m\]\\\\[$(tput bold)\\\\]\\w> \\[\\e[0m\\]\""
...

Remember to double up on the "\" where an actual "\" is needed.

To use in the same session type:

source ~/.bashrc

This will allow you to switch prompts in the active session.