problem to initialize ksh array when first element includes hyphen

gdan2000 · 07-19-2011, 08:15 AM

Hi

I'm trying to create an array with variable including hyphen

but ksh refuses the first element

set -A allArgs
set +A allArgs ${allArgs[@]} -all
set +A allArgs ${allArgs[@]} -date
set +A allArgs ${allArgs[@]} test

./test.ksh[11]: -all: bad option(s)

It happens only when first element is like this:
set +A allArgs ${allArgs[@]} all
set +A allArgs ${allArgs[@]} -date
set +A allArgs ${allArgs[@]} test

print "Array is: ${allArgs[@]}"

Array is: all -date test

onebuck · 07-19-2011, 08:24 AM

Moved: This thread is more suitable in <Programming> and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

colucix · 07-19-2011, 08:44 AM

Not a real solution but a workaround:

Code:

#!/bin/ksh
set -A allArgs
set +A allArgs ${allArgs[@]} dummy
set +A allArgs ${allArgs[@]} -date
set +A allArgs ${allArgs[@]} test
allArgs[0]=-all
echo ${allArgs[@]}

that is you can change the first element later.

bigearsbilly · 07-19-2011, 08:51 AM

double hyphen is pretty standard for this sort of thing...

Code:

$ set -A  x -- -1 2 3 -all
$ echo ${x[*]}       
-1 2 3 -all

gdan2000 · 07-19-2011, 11:59 PM

10x

this is exactly what I need

bigearsbilly · 07-20-2011, 04:06 AM

just a quick note,

the double hyphen -- is standard on most sh derived shells.
It stops any further processing of switches.
So it's useful in lots of places, like

echo -- "$thing"

is a safer way to echo for example where there may be hyphens, though
echo is a bit brain dead, but you get the idea.