EEM TCL cli_read_line returns whole output

Question

I'm writing a script that excutes some show commands with cli_write, the idea is to use cli_read_line to parse output one line at time, then using cli_read_drain after done reading the results of interest.
However, cli_read_line always returns the entire command output, potentially thousands of characters. In other words, it behaves same as cli_read.
That is slowing down and complicating the script. Using IOS 15.1(4)M1.
Is there a way to make cli_read_line work as per documentation ?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, the cli_read* functions are not non-blocking, and thus cli_read_line will not work the way you want.  I'm pushing to add more true send/expect like functionality to the cli_lib functions in a future release of EEM.  In the meantime, you might try:
cli_read_pattern $fd ".*"
To read anything.  Then parse the return into lines and iterate over them.  I had to do something similar in my EASy Remote Command shell tool to get around the limitations in cli_read_line.