-a String operator in shell script


 
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# 1  
Old 12-04-2013
-a String operator in shell script

What does -a operator for String manipulation imply?
Eg:
Code:
if [ -a $string];then

# 2  
Old 12-04-2013
Nothing comprehensible. This is invalid in a variety of ways. -a means "And", and is supposed to be used with two sub-statements, not a single string.
# 3  
Old 12-04-2013
In ksh -a used in that fashion, means the same as -e ( True, if file exists ). In ksh93 this has become obsolete. There should be a space around the square brackets BTW.

Last edited by Scrutinizer; 12-04-2013 at 03:43 PM..
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