Kevin, Looking for a solution to *my* problem (strange networking problem with debian testing), I saw your post and thought I'd respond.
> # set some variables to nightmarish values for testing purposes > d='"ab\""q"' # literal value is "ab\""q" > e='$d' # literal value is $d > f="'ba'r'" # literal value is 'ba'r' > > # here's the meat of the code > result="`echo "$d $e $f" | sed "s/'/\'\\\\\\\'\'/g" | \ > ( read -r a b c; echo "a='$a' ; b='$b' ; c='$c'" )`" > eval "$result" > > # test that $a $b $c have the right values > echo "$a $b $c" Another, more sane way to do what you want (I think): set `echo "$d $e $f" | sed "s/'/\'\\\\\\\'\'/g"` a=$1; b=$2; c=$3 which will work if your data have no embedded spaces. Otherwise, pick a character you know is not in the data (+, for example) and: OIFS=$IFS; IFS="+" set `echo "$d+$e+$f" | sed "s/'/\'\\\\\\\'\'/g"` a=$1; b=$2; c=$3 IFS=$OIFS I've been writing shell scripts for many years, and I *still* trip over this now and again, curse a time or three, then remember that some things are done in sub-shells or sub-processes, and finally do the IFS and set trick. :) Neal -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
