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From: koren@hpfelg.HP.COM (Steve Koren)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.tech
Subject: Re: grep-ing for "*" with SKsh
Message-ID: <13920075@hpfelg.HP.COM>
Date: 18 Jul 90 01:31:16 GMT
References: <alfredo.7294@ajahnv.lonestar.org>
Organization: HP Elec. Design Div. -FtCollins
Lines: 18

Earlier I wrote this:

> The problem with using "grep" to search for the '*' is that the '*'
> is a "special" regular expression character meaning "0 or more of the
> previous expression".  It is also a special character to the shell,
> used in pattern matching.  You must escape both of these to use the
> '*' with grep.  Fgrep is easier.  If you normally find yourself
> using fgrep instead of grep, you can alias one to the other.

I forgot to include the exact command line to grep:

  grep '\\*' myfile

The first backslash escapes the second in SKsh.  Then, a single
backslash gets passed to grep which grep uses to escape the
'*' which is a special character.

   - steve