repeat character with printf - Shell Programming and Scripting

ripat · #1 12-13-2007

It's all in the subject. I try to figure out how to repeat a character a number of time with printf.

For example to draw a line in a script output.

Thks

rikxik · #2 12-13-2007

I didn't know repeating characters was printf's speciality

If you don't mind using perl, this should be ok:

Code:

$ perl -e 'print "-" x 25,"\n"'
-------------------------

HTH

ripat · #3 12-13-2007

Thanks. I was hoping to find some pure bash solution like padding with a custom character like in PHP

Code:

printf("%'#10s\n",  '');

Still looking.

radoulov · #4 12-13-2007

ksh93/bash:

Code:

for i in {1..100};do printf "%s" "#";done;printf "\n"

zsh:

Code:

repeat 100 printf "#";print

or:

ksh93/zsh and bash:

Code:

ch="$(printf "%100s" "")"
printf "%s\n" "${ch// /#}"

bash3

Code:

printf -vch  "%100s" ""
printf "%s\n" "${ch// /#}"

and another one with zsh:

Code:

print "${$(printf "%100s" "")// /#}"

ripat · #5 12-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by radoulov

Code:

printf -vch  "%100s" ""
printf "%s\n" "${ch// /#}"

I like that one. The best I could come up with was this:

Code:

LINE="########################################################"
echo ${LINE,0,15}

Thank you.

radoulov · #6 12-13-2007

Sorry,
in zsh it could be just like this

Code:

print ${(l:100::#:)}

Perderabo · #7 12-13-2007

I have never found a real great ksh method that doesn't resort to the extentions of ksh93. But if I need this, I use a function...

Code:

$ function fill { typeset i=$1 c="$2" s="" ; while ((i)) ; do ((i=i-1)) ; s="$s$c" ; done ; echo  "$s" ; }
$ s=$(fill 15 \*)
$ echo "$s"
***************
$

In retrospect, "repeat" might have been a better name for the function than "fill". Maybe I'll change the name next time I use it.

More UNIX and Linux Forum Topics You Might Find Helpful
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Repeat last entered command ?	vilius	Shell Programming and Scripting	5	09-25-2007 03:15 AM
to copy and repeat	falcondown01	Shell Programming and Scripting	4	09-07-2007 05:15 PM
Repeat Commands	dereckbc	UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers	6	01-04-2005 08:15 AM
Keyboard repeat speed	tecss	UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users	1	05-17-2004 06:05 PM
any idea to repeat a action in VI	myelvis	UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers	6	11-26-2003 03:21 AM

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode