Re: field splitting behavior

[Peter Stephenson <pws@xxxxxxx>]

Zefram wrote:
> Paul Lew wrote:
> >> var='foobar'
> >> echo ${(@)${(s/:/)var}[1]}
> >f
> >
> >So why it did field splitting on each character when there is no
> >separator ':' found?  I would expect 'foobar' on the output.
> 
> The result of the splitting is a single word "foobar", as you expect.
> This is then treated as a scalar, not an array, and so the [1] extracts
> the first character, instead of the first element.  The (@) doesn't do
> what you think it does (it only has an effect where double quotes are
> used).  I don't see any easy way to force the result of a ${(s...)...}
> to be treated as an array, so I'll have to leave that to the expansion
> wizards.

I can only think of the gross hack

  print ${${(s/:/):-${var}:rubbish}[1]}

which extends the string to make sure it produces an array.  It's somewhat
inconsistent that you sometimes get a scalar and sometimes an array.

-- 
Peter Stephenson <pws@xxxxxxx>                  Software Engineer
CSR Ltd., Science Park, Milton Road,
Cambridge, CB4 0WH, UK                          Tel: +44 (0)1223 392070


**********************************************************************
The information transmitted is intended only for the person or
entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential 
and/or privileged material. 
Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or
taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by 
persons or entities other than the intended recipient is 
prohibited.  
If you received this in error, please contact the sender and 
delete the material from any computer.
**********************************************************************