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Top Forums Shell Programming and Scripting need help testing for length of variable Post 302203728 by wlewis on Monday 9th of June 2008 04:49:09 PM
Old 06-09-2008
need help testing for length of variable

Hello, I'm new to shell scripting and need a little help please.

I'm working on a script that asks the user to input a name that can be 1 to 12 alphanumeric characters and can have dots(.) dashes(-) and spaces. I want to test that the answer is valid and if not make the user try again. I have no problem doing this with y|n questions or numeric only , but I haven't been able to figure this out.

Thanks.
 

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QUIZ(6) 							   Games Manual 							   QUIZ(6)

NAME
quiz - test your knowledge SYNOPSIS
/usr/games/quiz [ -i file ] [ -t ] [ category1 category2 ] DESCRIPTION
Quiz gives associative knowledge tests on various subjects. It asks items chosen from category1 and expects answers from category2. If no categories are specified, quiz gives instructions and lists the available categories. Quiz tells a correct answer whenever you type a bare newline. At the end of input, upon interrupt, or when questions run out, quiz reports a score and terminates. The -t flag specifies `tutorial' mode, where missed questions are repeated later, and material is gradually introduced as you learn. The -i flag causes the named file to be substituted for the default index file. The lines of these files have the syntax: line = category newline | category `:' line category = alternate | category `|' alternate alternate = empty | alternate primary primary = character | `[' category `]' | option option = `{' category `}' The first category on each line of an index file names an information file. The remaining categories specify the order and contents of the data in each line of the information file. Information files have the same syntax. Backslash `' is used as with sh(1) to quote syntacti- cally significant characters or to insert transparent newlines into a line. When either a question or its answer is empty, quiz will refrain from asking it. FILES
/usr/games/quiz.k/* BUGS
The construct `a|ab' doesn't work in an information file. Use `a{b}'. QUIZ(6)
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