Script is stripping off leading zero

wtaicken · 11-09-2009, 06:36 AM

I have a script which is taking a 10 character variable input by the user. If it begins with a zero, the script unwittingly strips that off, & proceeds with 9 characters. I want to rectify it so either it doesn't do this or if it recognises only nine characters further into the process, adds a zero to the beginning.

The initial syntax calling for the variable is

Code:

echo -n "Enter core-follow date/time for BOC: "
    setenv BOC $<

Had to mod another script to add a zero, but this isn't ideal, if variable doesn't start with zero.

Code:

RETRIEVE FROM FILE "$PAN_MODEL_DIR./data/R$REACTOR..LOADING.0$BOC."

Robhogg · 11-09-2009, 07:38 AM

You could try the following to add the leading zeroes back in:

Code:

BOC=`printf "%010s" $BOC`

I'm assuming here that you're talking about a shell script...

pixellany · 11-09-2009, 07:51 AM

According to the man page on my system, "setenv" is a C function. I do not find it as a command callable in BASH

???

wtaicken · 11-09-2009, 09:05 AM

Yes, this is from a C shell script

wtaicken · 11-11-2009, 10:42 AM

Tried the suggestion

Code:

BOC=`printf "%010s" $BOC

`

before the statement

Code:

RETRIEVE FROM FILE "$PAN_MODEL_DIR./data/R$REACTOR..LOADING.$BOC."

but that didn't seem to add a leading zero. Is the syntax correct?

Robhogg · 11-12-2009, 07:02 AM

Ah, just tested that in the C shell and it hasn't worked:

Code:

$ csh
$ BOC=123456789
BOC=123456789: Command not found.
$ set BOC=123456789
$ echo $BOC
123456789
$ set BOC=`printf "%010s" $BOC`
printf: %010s: invalid conversion specification
$ set BOC=`printf "%010d" $BOC`
$ echo $BOC
0000000000
$

It does work from bash.

Edited to add:
D'Oh! Correction, set BOC=`printf "%010d" $BOC` does work, but only for numeric strings:

Code:

$ set BOC=123456789
$ set BOC=`printf "%010d" $BOC`
$ echo $BOC
0123456789
$ set BOC=12345qrc
$ set BOC=`printf "%010d" $BOC`
printf: 12345qrc: value not completely converted
$ echo $BOC
0000012345