Variable containing spaces 2

[marielc]

Hi,
Does anyone know how I can test a variable for only containing spaces?

 

[PHV]

Try something like this:

[ `expr "$var" : ' *'` -eq `expr length "$var"` ] &&
  echo "'$var' is empty or only space"

Hope This Help, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884

 

[aigles]

Another form :

[tt]
[ `expr "$var" : " \+$" >/dev/null` ] && "Only spaces"
[/tt]

Jean Pierre.

 

[marielc]

Thanks guys!

 

[sbix]

By the moment a variable full of space is an empty var a very simple test is:
a=' '
if [ X$a = "X" ];then
echo "var \$a is empty "
fi

 

[aigles]

Sorry sbix, your solution doesn,t works when the variable contains special characters or text with space(s) :
[tt]
home/jp> a="Not Only Spaces"
home/jp> [ X$a = "X" ] && echo empty
/bin/ksh: Only: unknown test operator
home/jp>
[/tt]

Another method with ksh :
[tt]
home/jp> a=xxxxx
home/jp> [[ "$a" = +( ) ]] && echo "Only spaces"
home/jp> a=" "
home/jp> [[ "$a" = +( ) ]] && echo "Only spaces"
Only spaces
home/jp>
[/tt]

Jean Pierre.

 

[sbix]

Infact the question was "Does anyone know how I can test a variable for ONLY containing spaces?"