UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

hi unixers,

i wonder if someone can tell me how i can check for a regex at the command line?

Code:

if any parameter begins with a special character then
   do this
else
   do that

thanks for your help.

since i'm still at the top of the list, i thought i would add that i'm using ksh.

thanks for your help.

Testing a parameter at the command line? Be preciser and clarify what your trying to achieve.

Regards

sorry about that and thanks for your response Franklin52.

i have a script that has this syntax: script <group_id> <user_name> <regex>

rules:
* the user can enter single or multiple group_ids and/or user_names
* the regex is optional
* group_ids are 5-digit integers
* user_names are can be a combo of chars and integers


because the regex parameter is optional, i want to check if it was added at the command line. further, if the regex was actually added, then i want to use that regex value against a different script that i created:

Code:

if any parameter begins with a special character; then
  run a different script with the regex parameter
else
  do something else
fi

here's as far as i got.. and i admit, it's not far....

Code:

if [ "$*" begins with any of these '[][\\.*$^]/\\&' ]
  ./script2 regex
else
  do something else
fi

thanks

Using getopts would be a better bet imho.
-g group, -u user -r (optional regexp)...that kind of thing.