using read and setting variables from user input string

tekgek · 11-27-2008, 12:12 AM

Hey, all,
I have been trying to make a script that will let me use read to take user input strings and set them as variables. I came across something on another forum, and modified it, to look like this:

Code:

URL_VISIT=""
read -n 1 -a CHAR -s
while [ "x$CHAR" != "x`echo -e "\e"`" ] ; do
echo $CHAR
URL_VISIT="$URL_VISIT$CHAR"
read -n 1 -a CHAR -s
done
echo Whole input was $URL_VISIT

I know almost nothing about programming, but am trying to learn. Anyway, I get the following error when I try to run my script"

Code:

read: 9: Illegal option -n

so far as I know -n is a legal option, and it works when I type the command manually, so perhaps a problem with the code?

Any help would be great.

Thanks,
Tekgek

burschik · 11-27-2008, 01:10 AM

It works for me. Are you sure you are using the shell you think you are using? Furthermore, it makes no sense to use the array option together with "-n 1", since you are only reading a single character anyway.