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bash script help: escaping the '*'

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Top Forums Shell Programming and Scripting bash script help: escaping the '*'
# 1  
Old 10-07-2005
bash script help: escaping the '*'
hi there. i have a simple bash script that reads a word from a text file
one at a time, and if a '*' character is encountered, it prints a message.
however it doesn't work as i expected. Smilie what am i doing wrong here?
thanks very much for the help Smilie

Code:
for word in `cat $DOC`
do
        if [ "$word" = "\*" ]; then
                echo -e "\n\nASTERISK\n\n"
        fi
done

# 2  
Old 10-07-2005
Read man bash for [[ expression ]]

Code:
for word in `cat $DOC`
do
        if [[ "$word" = *"*"* ]] ; then
                echo -e "\n\nASTERISK\n\n"
        fi
done

vino
# 3  
Old 10-07-2005
still doesn't work.... Smilie
# 4  
Old 10-07-2005
What error does it give ? And what shell are you running ?
Last edited by vino; 10-07-2005 at 05:08 AM..
# 5  
Old 10-07-2005
im using #!/bin/bash at it doesnt give any errors and doesnt write anything to stdout.

here's a sample of the text file im reading.. the problem arises from that single
'*' character just above Links.

Code:
<DOC>
<DOCNO>EUK-003-373651945</DOCNO>
<DOCID>EUK-003-373651945</DOCID>
<TEXT>
   [1]Back to Full Graphics
     _________________________________________________________________

   *
   Links

   The Foreign Office works with a variety of different organisations and
   government bodies to achieve its human rights objectives. Click on the
   links on the right for a list of relevant websites in each sector.
   The Foreign and Commonwealth Office London is not responsible for the
   contents or reliability of the linked websites and does not
   necessarily endorse the views expressed within them. We cannot
   guarantee that these links will work all of the time and we have no
   control over availability of the linked pages.

References

   1. http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage
&c=Page&cid=1028302592178
</TEXT>

# 6  
Old 10-07-2005
Do you just want to detect *'s ? Or get rid of it ? What is it that you want ?

This sed command will output the file sans the *'s

Code:
sed -e 's#*##g' $DOC

# 7  
Old 10-07-2005
sorry i did not make myself clear..

i wanted to read each word from the file,
if its a '*', echo "\\*" >> $output-file (escape the '*')
else, echo "$word" >> $output-file
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