Why do my variables not work in my Bash script?

Question

I'm trying to use some script variables in a Bash script to make my code clearer.

However, for some reason, my variables are not being expanded/used.

Nothing happens when I use the variable with the full command spelled out

This is the script I made:

command1=$SOMEPATH/abc.sh
command2=$SOMEPATH/def.sh input
command3=$SOMEPATH/ghi

 gnome-terminal                                                                   \
 --tab -t "Server 1"  -e 'bash -c "export BASH_POST_RC=\"$command1\"; exec bash"'  \
 --tab -t "Server 2"  -e 'bash -c "export BASH_POST_RC=\"$command2";  exec bash"' \
 --tab -t "Server 3"  -e 'bash -c "export BASH_POST_RC=\"$command3";  exec bash"' 

Answer 1

Declare your variables in double quotes

command1="$SOMEPATH/abc.sh"
command2="$SOMEPATH/def.sh input"
command3="$SOMEPATH/ghi"

Answer 2

Add export command1 command2 command3 between variable assignments and gnome-terminal command. Alternatively (and better) prefix export to all assignments:

command1="$SOMEPATH/abc.sh"
command2="$SOMEPATH/def.sh input"
command3="$SOMEPATH/ghi"

 gnome-terminal                                                                   \
 --tab -t "Server 1"  -e 'bash -c "export BASH_POST_RC=\"$command1\"; exec bash"'  \
 --tab -t "Server 2"  -e 'bash -c "export BASH_POST_RC=\"$command2";  exec bash"' \
 --tab -t "Server 3"  -e 'bash -c "export BASH_POST_RC=\"$command3";  exec bash"'  

This is because you using single quote in -e options, so variables will be used not in your script, but in bash you are running in tabs.

PS: Note that quoting still needed.