LinuxQuestions.org - [SOLVED] echoing whitespace from a command substitution

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echoing whitespace from a command substitution

I have run into a problem in a script where I want to preserve whitespace in a statement similar to:

echo $(ls -l)

The newline characters appear to be dropped. echo's -e option did not change the behavior, can anyone give insight into how bash interprets the above line? Thanks!

Hi,

all you need is paired quotation marks

Code:

echo "$(ls -l)"

Make that paired double quotation marks: using single quotation marks will echo the command string itself -- as you will find out if you try it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GahseyFan (Post 3506927)

. . . can anyone give insight into how bash interprets the above line? Thanks!

Not easily, I usually take a pragmatic approach & add the quotation marks when white space, & especially new lines, are getting lost.

It's a long & daunting document, but the bash man page is a starting point. Good luck.