UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

I've been having trouble with cat and variables. If I do the following:

Code:

var1=filex
cat $var1

I get the contents of the file named filex

If I do

Code:

var2="X-0101\ 2-10-2013.txt"
cat "$var2"

I get cat : cannot open X-0101\ 2-10-2013.txt.

I have tried to do cat $var2 without quotes as well, but nothing works. The file name is X-0101\ 2-10-2013.txt. There is a space after \.

Does anyone know why this behavior? It is probably something simple. it might be associated with the whitespace, but I thought the quotes would stop that from being an issue

What platform/OS are you on...

Code:

cannot open X-0101\ 2-10-2013.txt.

This sounds like you have set the variable correctly. Are you sure the file is in the same directory where you're issuing this command? (Though in this case No such file or directory would appear) And are you sure you have appropriate (read) permissions on this file? (Though in this case Permission denied would appear)

Yes, I am in that directory. The version of the O/S is solaris 10.

You have escaped the space character twice, once by " " and another time with \.
Try

Code:

var2="X-0101 2-10-2013.txt"

Made in Germany, you are a GENIUS! I did what you explained, and it worked! So much pain for this simple fix!

After setting the variable as you mentioned, I then ran cat "$var2" and it worked just fine!!

Sorry, I thought Just saying.