inconsistent bash behavior?

kornelix · 12-15-2005, 09:56 AM

I need to parse a variable to get substrings. Some substrings are quoted to include imbedded blanks.

Please inspect the following:

Code:

[~] $ echo $record
aaa "bbb bbb" ccc
[~] $ set $record
[~] $ echo $2
"bbb

OK, so the quotes do not work.

So I tried the following:

Code:

[~] $ eval set $record
[~] $ echo $2
bbb bbb

It worked !!

Now I put this into a shell script, and it reverts to the unwanted behavior above, as though the "eval" were not there.

Is it bash or is it me? Can someone help?

kornelix · 12-15-2005, 11:06 AM

My problem. The eval was working in the script, I was confused by an error made later in the script.

I do have a question, though. It does seem the first approach should work. Does someone have a logical explanation why it does not? Seems to me that bash is not self-consistent with its syntax.