Programming Forums > Script Programming > Bash / Shell Scripting

MegaArcon · Jun 28th, 2006, 1:48 PM

Hi all!

I've got a little bash script that basically takes my directory path to the "My Documents" folder. Instead of the space, I've inserted a special sequence that I want replaced with "\ " so that I can cd into that directory. However, I get an interesting result.

Here's the Script:

(Toggle Plain Text)

#!/bin/bash
MYDIR=/users/cs/study/gordon/MyxyXYWhitespacEYXyxDocuments
MYDIR=${MYDIR//xyXYWhitespacEYXyx/\\\ }
echo $MYDIR
cd $MYDIR
ls

Here's the output when I run my file:

(Toggle Plain Text)

/users/cs/study/gordon/My\ Documents
./test: line 5: cd: /users/cs/study/gordon/My\: No such file or directory

So the echo shows that the "\ " was put into the variable, but when I try and cd into it, it cuts off at the "My\". Does the string substitution put in something unique instead of just a whitespace? Am I using this correctly?

Thanks in advance for any insight.

Infinite Recursion · Jun 28th, 2006, 2:00 PM

Try this:

(Toggle Plain Text)

#!/bin/bash
MYDIR="./My Dir"
echo $MYDIR
cd "$MYDIR"
ls

Was there a particular reason that you were avoiding the use of the space in the directory name? If not, this will work out for you.

MegaArcon · Jun 28th, 2006, 2:15 PM

Ah ha! The quotes MegaArcon! The quotes! Why thank you Infinite Recursion. Looking at your code helped to spark what I was missing. Instead of subbing in "\ " I can just sub in " " and surround my variable with double quotes for the cd.

New code:

(Toggle Plain Text)

#!/bin/bash
MYDIR=/users/cs/study/gordon/MyxyXYWhitespacEYXyxDocuments
MYDIR=${MYDIR//xyXYWhitespacEYXyx/ }
echo $MYDIR
cd "$MYDIR"
ls

New output:

(Toggle Plain Text)

/users/cs/study/gordon/My Documents
Desktop    My Pictures        foo.doc

Ah, good ol' bash. Thanks again.

Infinite Recursion · Jun 28th, 2006, 2:47 PM

You're welcome

Jun 28th, 2006, 1:48 PM	#1
MegaArcon Programmer Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 66 Rep Power: 0	String Substiution. Whitespace? Hi all! I've got a little bash script that basically takes my directory path to the "My Documents" folder. Instead of the space, I've inserted a special sequence that I want replaced with "\ " so that I can cd into that directory. However, I get an interesting result. Here's the Script: (Toggle Plain Text) #!/bin/bash MYDIR=/users/cs/study/gordon/MyxyXYWhitespacEYXyxDocuments MYDIR=${MYDIR//xyXYWhitespacEYXyx/\\\ } echo $MYDIR cd $MYDIR ls #!/bin/bash MYDIR=/users/cs/study/gordon/MyxyXYWhitespacEYXyxDocuments MYDIR=${MYDIR//xyXYWhitespacEYXyx/\\\ } echo $MYDIR cd $MYDIR ls Here's the output when I run my file: (Toggle Plain Text) /users/cs/study/gordon/My\ Documents ./test: line 5: cd: /users/cs/study/gordon/My\: No such file or directory /users/cs/study/gordon/My\ Documents ./test: line 5: cd: /users/cs/study/gordon/My\: No such file or directory So the echo shows that the "\ " was put into the variable, but when I try and cd into it, it cuts off at the "My\". Does the string substitution put in something unique instead of just a whitespace? Am I using this correctly? Thanks in advance for any insight. __________________ Isn't that just the way life goes? If it's worth doing, it's NP-Hard. Todd Wareham - Memorial University of Newfoundland

Jun 28th, 2006, 2:00 PM	#2
Infinite Recursion Programming Guru Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: United States Posts: 3,453 Rep Power: 7	Try this: (Toggle Plain Text) #!/bin/bash MYDIR="./My Dir" echo $MYDIR cd "$MYDIR" ls #!/bin/bash MYDIR="./My Dir" echo $MYDIR cd "$MYDIR" ls Was there a particular reason that you were avoiding the use of the space in the directory name? If not, this will work out for you. __________________ http://jasonpowers.net "There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root."

Jun 28th, 2006, 2:15 PM	#3
MegaArcon Programmer Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 66 Rep Power: 0	Ah ha! The quotes MegaArcon! The quotes! Why thank you Infinite Recursion. Looking at your code helped to spark what I was missing. Instead of subbing in "\ " I can just sub in " " and surround my variable with double quotes for the cd. New code: (Toggle Plain Text) #!/bin/bash MYDIR=/users/cs/study/gordon/MyxyXYWhitespacEYXyxDocuments MYDIR=${MYDIR//xyXYWhitespacEYXyx/ } echo $MYDIR cd "$MYDIR" ls #!/bin/bash MYDIR=/users/cs/study/gordon/MyxyXYWhitespacEYXyxDocuments MYDIR=${MYDIR//xyXYWhitespacEYXyx/ } echo $MYDIR cd "$MYDIR" ls New output: (Toggle Plain Text) /users/cs/study/gordon/My Documents Desktop My Pictures foo.doc /users/cs/study/gordon/My Documents Desktop My Pictures foo.doc Ah, good ol' bash. Thanks again. __________________ Isn't that just the way life goes? If it's worth doing, it's NP-Hard. Todd Wareham - Memorial University of Newfoundland

Jun 28th, 2006, 2:47 PM	#4
Infinite Recursion Programming Guru Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: United States Posts: 3,453 Rep Power: 7	You're welcome __________________ http://jasonpowers.net "There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root."

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Programming Forums > Script Programming > Bash / Shell Scripting

String Substiution. Whitespace?