the IFS variable Post: 89648

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Top Forums UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers the IFS variable Post 89648 by djt0506 on Monday 14th of November 2005 05:40:49 PM

11-14-2005

Registered User

the IFS variable

Hi all,

Ok os heres my situation. I have created a database style program that stores a persons info (name,address,phone number etc.) in a file ("database"). after i read in all the values above, i assign them to a line variable:

line="$name^$address^$phonenum" >> phonebuk

as you can see i am using my own delimeter ^. I specified that

IFS=^ at the top of my script.

the information, as u can see above, is being redirected into a phonebuk file which is acting as my "database".

but heres my problem. when i cat my phonebuk with the IFS=^ at the top of my script, the output is as follows:

name address phonenum

(notice that there is no delimeter ( ^ ) )

but when i take out the IFS=^ at the top of my script, the output is as follows:

name^address^phonenum

why does the IFS remove the delimeter ^ from my database line? i need the delimeter in order to perform further operations on the information contained in the database like edit an individual field and so on.

please help me. im in the stickiest situation since sticky the stick-insect got stuck on a sticky bun.

djt0506

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phones

phones(4)							   File Formats 							 phones(4)

NAME

       phones - remote host phone number database

SYNOPSIS

       /etc/phones

DESCRIPTION

       The  file /etc/phones contains the system-wide private phone numbers for the tip(1) program. /etc/phones is normally unreadable, and so may
       contain privileged information.	The format of /etc/phones is a series of lines of the form:

       <system-name>[ 	]*<phone-number>.

       The system name is one of those defined in the remote(4) file and the phone number is constructed from [0123456789-=*%]. The  `='  and  `*'
       characters  are	indicators  to	the auto call units to pause and wait for a second dial tone (when going through an exchange).	The `=' is
       required by the DF02-AC and the `*' is required by the BIZCOMP 1030.

       Comment lines are lines containing a `#' sign in the first column of the line.

       Only one phone number per line is permitted. However, if more than one line in the file contains the same system name tip(1)  will  attempt
       to dial each one in turn, until it establishes a connection.

FILES

       /etc/phones

SEE ALSO

       tip(1), remote(4)

SunOS 5.10							    14 Jan 1992 							 phones(4)

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