remove first and last character

zeroquaranta · 02-24-2010, 04:56 AM

Hi all,

which is the simplest way to have first and last character cropped out from a string?
Something simpler than

Code:

echo $STRING | cut -b 2- | rev |  cut -b 2- | rev

?

pixellany · 02-24-2010, 06:59 AM

Normally, you should start new threads rather than jumping into exisiting ones. I've moved this to a new thread.

Code:

sed -e 's/^.//' -e 's/.$//'

(Not sure it's any better than yours.....)

syg00 · 02-24-2010, 07:08 AM

Code:

sed -r 's/^.(.*).$/\1/'

???

tuxdev · 02-24-2010, 09:20 AM

Parameter Expansion:

Code:

string="foobar"
echo "${string:1:$(( ${#string} - 2 ))}"

ntubski · 02-24-2010, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuxdev

Parameter Expansion:

Code:

string="foobar"
echo "${string:1:$(( ${#string} - 2 ))}"

You don't need the $(()):

3.5.3 Shell Parameter Expansion

Quote:

${parameter:offset:length}
... length and offset are arithmetic expressions.

tuxdev · 02-24-2010, 10:14 AM

ah, I missed that part of the manual

zeroquaranta · 02-25-2010, 02:10 AM

Sorry for not having opened a new thread.
Thank you all guys for the help.
And thank you for pointing that bash reference manual out. Looks very comprehensive.