Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!wuarchive!uunet!mtndew!friedl
From: friedl@mtndew.Tustin.CA.US (Steve Friedl)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions
Subject: Re: If $1 = "" I get an error, Help:-)
Message-ID: <541@mtndew.Tustin.CA.US>
Date: 8 Oct 90 06:09:15 GMT
References: <311@alix.UUCP> <2919@canisius.UUCP> <5434@ptsfa.PacBell.COM>
Distribution: usa
Organization: VSI*FAX Tech Ctr, Tustin, CA
Lines: 20

> Enclose the $1 in "s:
> 
>            if [ "$1" = "" ]
> 

While this handles the null input case properly, it can get confused
if the variable contains one of the magic tokens for test (say, "-x"
or "!").  Better is to de-magify [?] the variable with:

             if [ x"$1" = x"" ]

so you don't get the potential surprise.

     Steve

-- 
Stephen J. Friedl, KA8CMY / I speak for me only / Tustin, CA / 3B2-kind-of-guy
+1 714 544 6561  / friedl@mtndew.Tustin.CA.US  / {uunet,attmail}!mtndew!friedl

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