[SOLVED] Modifying zsh glob expansion in variables.

evo2 · 05-01-2013, 03:45 AM

Hi all,

does anyone know of a zsh option that will make shell globs in variables expand? Here I try to illustrate the situation. The following would happen in zsh:

Code:

% touch a b c
% fs="*"
% echo $fs
*

The same thing in bash, dash or ksh will output "a b c".

Does anyone know of a option in zsh that would get it to behave like these other shells? I did check the zshoptions man page but have not found anything that does what I'd like. I'd really like to find a simple workaround here, I don't want to have to switch to bash, or have to patch a bunch of scripts. Any ideas?

The above example is the simplest that illustrates the problem, the bigger problem is that in the environment I work in, there are large number of scripts that must be sourced to use some in house software. There are scripts to source for bourne shell users (in practice a hundred or so bash users), and an alternative set of scripts exist for csh users (in practice a few dozen tcsh users). AFAIK, I'm the only zsh user.

TIA,

Evo2.

millgates · 05-01-2013, 04:55 AM

Hi,
What exactly are you trying to do?
I've never used zsh, but after a quick glance at the manual:

man zshoptions:

Code:

       GLOB_SUBST <C> <K> <S>
              Treat any characters resulting from parameter expansion as being eligible for  file
              expansion  and  filename generation, and any characters resulting from command sub‐
              stitution as being  eligible  for  filename  generation.   Braces  (and  commas  in
              between) do not become eligible for expansion.

Code:

% setopt GLOB_SUBST
% touch a b c
% fs="*"
% echo $fs
a b c

Also, please note that, like in bash, the glob expansion happens after parameter substitution, not during assignment.

evo2 · 05-01-2013, 07:09 PM

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by millgates

I've never used zsh, but after a quick glance at the manual:

<snip>

Opps, seems I should have spent more time in that man page...

Thanks, GLOB_SUBST seems to be exactly what I was looking for.

Cheers,

Evo2.