[SOLVED] Introducing grouping characters in user input

Faki · 04-03-2023, 02:31 PM

I have an awk script that takes user input uclass. But can be defaulted if not supplied.

Code:

if (uclass == "") uclass="([[:graph:]]+)"

Customarily user input does not include the grouping clause () that allows me to capture the sub-pattern later.

How can I set the grouping characters around the user input if supplied?

MadeInGermany · 04-04-2023, 12:45 AM

Code:

if (uclass == "") uclass="[[:graph:]]+
if (uclass !~ /^[(].*[)]$/) uclass=("(" uclass ")")

If you know there is never a "( )" supplied then you can omit the second condition.