[Bash] New line character in variable

michael_hk · 06-15-2006, 01:38 AM

Hi,

How can I include a new line character in a variable in a bash shell script?

test.sh
=============
myvar="line1\nline2"
echo $myvar # gives line1\nline2

Doesn't work...and I have already tried many different combinations (\r\n, etc etc).

Thanks in advance.

Michael

druuna · 06-15-2006, 02:45 AM

Hi,

Use echo -e instead of echo.

Code:

#!/bin/bash
myvar="line1\nline2"
echo -e $myvar

man bash for details.

Hope this helps.

timmeke · 06-15-2006, 05:38 AM

druuna is right.
See also:

Code:

man echo

-e makes echo interpret some backslash escape sequences like \n, \r, \t, etc.

michael_hk · 06-15-2006, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timmeke

druuna is right.
See also:

Code:

man echo

-e makes echo interpret some backslash escape sequences like \n, \r, \t, etc.

Thanks. It works.

spirit receiver · 06-15-2006, 02:13 PM

No need for the echo command, myvar=$'\n' will also do the trick.