how to convert character to number in the shell?

[stibitz]

The shell seems to know when I cut a "number" from a string, that it is indeed not a number. Is there a way to use it as a number? Convert it through another variable assignment to be a number?

 

[olded]

Perhaps you should post an example of your problem. In ksh, this cuts out 123456:

myvar=$(echo "123 hi there 456" |sed 's/[^0-9]//g')
echo "$myvar"

 

[stibitz]

answering my own question here...

secs=$(print $elapsed | cut -c5-6)
where $elapsed might = "14:21:36"
at this point, secs="36"
and temp=$(( $secs * 60 )) won't work.
if first invocation of secs is preceded by,
integer secs
shell converts(?) it to a number when assigned.
Well, whatever it does, it now works in shell arithmetic.

 

[Annihilannic]

I think you meant to cut -c7-8. I don't recall ever having to force a variable containing numerics to 'integer' to allow me to perform arithmetic.

Annihilannic.

 

[fpmurphy]

Looks like you are using ksh88 or ksh93. If so, try the following

$ elapsed="14:21:36"
$ print $(( ${elapsed:6} * 60 ))
2160
$