assigning value * to variable problem

coolpraz · 01-13-2013, 12:03 AM

hi
im writting script where in one point i got and unexpected result
here example

Code:

ASDF="*"
echo $ASDF

This display file and folder of the same folder where script is or from script is executed. I want to just display *

colucix · 01-13-2013, 02:54 AM

Just use double quotes around the value, as you did in the variable assignment:

Code:

echo "$ASDF"

Double quotes don't prevent variable substitution, but protect the asterisk from the filename expansion. Quoted from http://tldp.org/LDP/Bash-Beginners-G...ct_03_03.html:

Quote:

Using double quotes the literal value of all characters enclosed is preserved, except for the dollar sign, the backticks (backward single quotes, ``) and the backslash.

konsolebox · 01-13-2013, 03:41 AM

Another way to interpret it is that double quotes create a new string based on its contents and keeps it as is or prevents it from being re-expanded or re-parsed from the outside.