Re: Bug in basename?

[Richard Dawe]

Hello.

Darren wrote:
[snip]
> I *believe* there is a bug in basename, it is reproducable.  Demonstrated
> by the example below.  I apologise in advance if it is not and my
> understand is at fault.
[snip]
> $ a="gfgfgfgfgfgfgfgfgfgfytytytytytjhjhjhjhjh8686868686 - "
> $ b=`basename $a`
> $ a="gfgfgfgfgfgfgfgfgfgfytytytytytjhjhjhjhjh8686868686 - 17 "
> $ b=`basename $a`
> $ basename: too many arguments
> Try `basename --help' for more information.
[snip]

This is a shell expansion issue. You need to quote $a in the backticks, since
$a is expanded. I.e.:

    b=`basename "$a"`

HTH. Regards,

-- 
Richard Dawe [ http://www.phekda.freeserve.co.uk/richdawe/ ]