cut command

[asafbu]

Hello,

I'm trying to use cut command to retrieve timestamp from a list of files in a certain folder. It seems that cut command mesing up with the spaces

fileTimestamp="`ls -l ${BASE_DIR}/some_dir/${fileName}`" --I
somevar="`echo $fileTimestamp | cut -c 1-40`" ---II

The results of the (II) does not preserve spaces:

-rw-rw-rw- 1 d13ukas vzwadmin 4706 Aug 1
-rw-rw-r-- 1 d13ukas vzwadmin 155365 Aug
-rw-rw-r-- 1 d13ukas vzwadmin 77765 Aug
-rw-rw-r-- 1 d13ukas vzwadmin 489210 Aug

Results of (I) are just fine.
Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[PHV]

Why not simply this ?
somevar="`ls -l ${BASE_DIR}/some_dir/${fileName} | cut -c 1-40`"

Hope This Helps, PH.
FAQ219-2884
FAQ181-2886

 

[asafbu]

Thanks for the reply!

because the variable in I is used other places. So, you think it is happening because I'm storing the results in a variable?

 

[PHV]

No, it is prbably happening because you use the echo command without quoting its parameters ?
What happens if, with your posted code, you type this ?
echo [!]"[/!]$somevar[!]"[/!]

Hope This Helps, PH.
FAQ219-2884
FAQ181-2886

 

[PHV]

OOps, the loosing of space is here:
somevar="`[!]echo $fileTimestamp[/!] | cut -c 1-40`"
What about this ?
somevar=`echo "$fileTimestamp" | cut -c 1-40`

Hope This Helps, PH.
FAQ219-2884
FAQ181-2886

 

[asafbu]

I think you nailed it!

Thanks