using special symbols in bash script

Dr_Death_UAE · 11-14-2008, 10:58 AM

Hello, i was wondering how to handle special symbols with bash scripting.

like:
"! # $ % & ' ( ) * + , - . / : ; & < = > ? @ [ \ ] ^ _ { | } ~"

they give me error if i use them as variable.

any idea

trickykid · 11-14-2008, 11:10 AM

You'll usually have to escape them with the \ character.

Dr_Death_UAE · 11-14-2008, 11:14 AM

you mean to add slash \ after each symbol ?

for example if i want to use them in variable:

symbols="!\ #\ $\ %\ &\ '\ (\ )\ *\ +\ ,\ -\ .\ /\ :\ ;\ &\ <\ =\ >\ ?\ @\ [\ \\ ]\ ^\ _\ {\ |\ }\ ~\"

it wont work!

trickykid · 11-14-2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr_Death_UAE

you mean to add slash \ after each symbol ?

Yes.

So you want to display the $ symbol, you'd put \$ in you're script, etc.

AuroraCA · 11-14-2008, 11:21 AM

The "\" goes before the special character, not after.

colucix · 11-14-2008, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr_Death_UAE

symbols="!\ #\ $\ %\ &\ '\ (\ )\ *\ +\ ,\ -\ .\ /\ :\ ;\ &\ <\ =\ >\ ?\ @\ [\ \\ ]\ ^\ _\ {\ |\ }\ ~\"

You have to put the escape character before, not after.

Code:

$ echo \! \# \$ \% \& \' \( \) \* \+ \, \- \. \/ \: \; \< \= \< \? \@ \[ \\ \] \^ \_ \{ \| \} \~
! # $ % & ' ( ) * + , - . / : ; < = < ? @ [ \ ] ^ _ { | } ~

Dr_Death_UAE · 11-14-2008, 11:28 AM

symbols="\! \# \$ \% \& \'  \* \+ \, \- \. \/ \: \; \& \< \= \> \? \@ \[ \\ \] \^ \_ \{ \| \} \~"

gave me syntax error: unexpected end of file

trickykid · 11-14-2008, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr_Death_UAE

symbols="\! \# \$ \% \& \'  \* \+ \, \- \. \/ \: \; \& \< \= \> \? \@ \[ \\ \] \^ \_ \{ \| \} \~"

gave me syntax error: unexpected end of file

Well that tells us nothing. What are you trying to use the symbols variable as? Can you share the rest of you're script? More details give us better ideas as to what the actual problem is.

AuroraCA · 11-14-2008, 11:45 AM

You are defining the variable symbol as a string by using the "" (double quotes). You do not need to use the escape character before characters used as strings. The exception to this rule are the special characters $ (dollar sign) ` (backtick) and \ (backslash).

To do what you are doing you need to use:

Code:

     symbols="! # \$ % & \' ( ) * + , - . / : ; & < = > ? @ [ \\ ] ^ _ { | } ~"

Dr_Death_UAE · 11-14-2008, 12:11 PM

thanks guys, that solve the problem.

* is also need slash before it. \*

H_TeXMeX_H · 11-14-2008, 12:48 PM

You could also do:

Code:

echo '"! # $ % & '\'' ( ) * + , - . / : ; & < = > ? @ [ \ ] ^ _ { | } ~"'