Question

am trying to pass a parameter with a space in ksh via variables.

Here is some sample code to demonstrate the issue. As you will see the parameter with the space is later handled as two variables – not what I am after.

*Update – I didn’t copy and paste all the code in the origianl question. **

Contents of param_test.sh

#!/bin/ksh

echo "check 1"

param_string=${1}
param_string2=${2}

echo "check 2"

echo param_string = $param_string
echo param_string2 = $param_string2

echo "check 3"

Contents of call_param_test.sh

#!/bin/ksh

param_test.sh 'a b' c

CMD="param_test.sh 'a b' c"

# CMD=param_test.sh
# CMD="${CMD} 'a b c'"


echo CMD is  $CMD

echo now running CMD
${CMD}

echo back to calling script

echo at end


Results of executing call_param_test.sh

check 1
check 2
param_string = a b
param_string2 = c
check 3
CMD is param_test.sh 'a b' c
now running CMD
check 1
check 2
param_string = 'a
param_string2 = b'
check 3
back to calling script
at end

Thanks,

Answer 1

BashFAQ/050 is applicable. In general you should try to avoid putting commands in variables. If you must do it then an array is probably the way to go:

# create an array
CMD=(param_test.sh 'a b' c)
# execute the command contained in the array
${CMD[@]}