Counting string of a variable


 
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# 1  
Old 10-22-2008
Counting string of a variable

Hi,

There is a variable f_name, it store some file names.
Value of f_name=a.sql b.sql c.sql.......
like this.

want to count how many file name the var f_name stores.
Without using loop is there any command to count that.
# 2  
Old 10-22-2008
can you please clarify whether it is a variable or it is a directory which stores list of files.
# 3  
Old 10-22-2008
Depends on the shell you are using:

(assuming elements separated by white spaces)

[zsh]

Code:
$ f_name="a.sql b.sql c.sql"
$ print ${#${(z)f_name}}    
3

[ksh93 & bash]

Code:
$ f_name_a=($f_name);printf "%d\n" "${#f_name_a[@]}"
3

If none of the above works:

Code:
$ (f_name="a.sql b.sql c.sql";set -- $f_name; printf "%d\n"  $#)
3

# 4  
Old 10-22-2008
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dip
Hi,

There is a variable f_name, it store some file names.
Value of f_name=a.sql b.sql c.sql.......
like this.

want to count how many file name the var f_name stores.
Without using loop is there any command to count that.
Code:
# f_name="a.sql b.sql c.sql"
# echo $f_name|tr " " "\n"|wc -l
3

# 5  
Old 10-22-2008
Another one:

Code:
echo $f_name|awk '{print NF}'

# 6  
Old 10-22-2008
wc -w ---> will return the no of words, why can't you use this option...

Code:
echo $fname|wc -w

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