Trouble with UNIX tr (translate) function

by_tg · #1 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008

UNIX script - problem.

I want the spaces in my Item variable to be replaced with a question mark. Can you tell me what I am doing wrong? This is the whole code line.

Item | tr -s " " "?"

Why is this not making any changes to the Item value?

Thanks for any help you can give!
tg

Smiling Dragon · #2 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by by_tg

UNIX script - problem.

I want the spaces in my Item variable to be replaced with a question mark. Can you tell me what I am doing wrong? This is the whole code line.

Item | tr -s " " "?"

Why is this not making any changes to the Item value?

Thanks for any help you can give!
tg

If $item is your variable, you would need to echo it and store it back into the variable again.
Eg:

Code:

item=`echo $item | tr...`

bobbygsk · #3 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008

Try the following command

Quote:

echo "i te m" | tr -s " " "?"

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