Unix Shell - extracting a quoted word from a string using bash

Author

extracting a quoted word from a string using bash

turnernigel@hotmail.com

2005-10-24, 3:45 pm

Hello,

I'm using Kate text editor v2.4.1 under SuSE 10.0 out of the box. Here
is my script to extract the quoted word from a string. The word I want
in this case is Springfield. The script works as expected but the
editor highlights everything in red from the first quote leaving the
remaing script ambiguous. I have only included the relevant part of
the script here.

Is anyone able to help me correct this "feature" or adjust my script
please? Is there another way of getting the desired effect?

#!/bin/bash

line='I will not say "Springfield" just to get applause'

tmp1=${line#*\"}
tmp2=${tmp1%\"*}

echo $line
echo "the quoted word is:" $tmp2

Janis Papanagnou

2005-10-24, 3:45 pm

turnernigel@hotmail.com wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I'm using Kate text editor v2.4.1 under SuSE 10.0 out of the box. Here
> is my script to extract the quoted word from a string. The word I want
> in this case is Springfield. The script works as expected but the
> editor highlights everything in red from the first quote leaving the
> remaing script ambiguous. I have only included the relevant part of
> the script here.

The problem with scripts is that they are very cryptic and any syntax
highlighting is usually quite ambitious to implement.

If you have problems with syntax highlighting of your editor the best
thing you can do is asking in the comp.editors newsgroup or contact the
people where the editor is from to report some bug if it's not working
as specified.

> Is anyone able to help me correct this "feature" or adjust my script
> please? Is there another way of getting the desired effect?

That's the worst approach; to change a program to fit the deficiency of
some editor. Don't do that!

You might want to check other editors which might do a better job with
syntax highlighting and otherwise. Linux distributions are shipped with
a lot of editors.

Janis