echo parameters

Andrey-Bushman · 02-23-2018, 01:12 PM

Hi all,

I've read `man echo`. I test how to work the `e` and `-E` parameters:

First case:

Code:

andrey@bush-hp ~ $ echo -e Bob\nJack\nMike >> foo
andrey@bush-hp ~ $ less foo

The result:

Quote:

BobnJacknMike

I expected to get it:

Code:

Bob
Jack
Mike

Second case:

Code:

andrey@bush-hp ~ $ echo -E Bob\nJack\nMike >> foo2
andrey@bush-hp ~ $ less foo2

The result:

Quote:

BobnJacknMike

I expected to get it:

Code:

Bob\nJack\nMike

I get the same result for both cases for the `\n` escape symbol. What is difference of these parameters?

Thank you

scasey · 02-23-2018, 01:21 PM

You need to quote the string being echoed:

Code:

echo -e "Bob\nJack\nMike"
Bob
Jack
Mike

Incidentally, you can see the results of the echo command without redirecting to a file. It will just display for you.

Andrey-Bushman · 02-23-2018, 01:50 PM

Thank you!

ondoho · 02-24-2018, 07:05 AM

your shell has a builtin echo command - it is NOT /usr/bin/echo, and the man page does NOT apply.
try

Code:

help echo

instead.

Andrey-Bushman · 02-24-2018, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ondoho

your shell has a builtin echo command - it is NOT /usr/bin/echo, and the man page does NOT apply.
try

Code:

help echo

instead.

Thank you, you are right:

Code:

andrey@bush-hp ~ $ type echo
echo is a shell builtin

jlinkels · 02-24-2018, 08:32 AM

If I am not mistaken, if you don't quote the string, the \n is interpreted by the shell, not by echo.

jlinkels