asked on

tcsh shell script expanding * as files

Hello,

Here is a simple shell script saved in a file called "test":
_____________________________
if [ $# -gt 0 ]
then
echo "arguments number $#"
while [ $1 ]
do
echo "param $1"
shift
done
fi
_____________________________

If I launch it with "test *" and if in the directory there are two files "file1" and "test" here is the result:

__________
arguments number 2
param file1
param test
___________

My question is: why?
What I expected was:

___________
arguments number 1
param *
___________

Another thing strange (in my opinion), is that if I remove the "if" test lines like that:
___________________
echo "arguments number $#"
while [ $1 ]
do
echo "param $1"
shift
done
___________________

The result of the execution of the script "test *" is:

___________________
arguments number 2
while: Expression Syntax.
___________________

Do you have an idea?

Thanx

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

jlevie

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bonduel

ASKER

Yes you're right, thank you for you comment.
In fact, it is simple to avoid this by quoting the * like:
test "*"

I found this by doing some tests.

I think it is 200 wasted points, and some of your time.

Thank you again.

bonduel

ASKER

Ha, and about the while error, I should replace the test:

while [ $1 ]

with

while [ "$1" != "" ]

Like this it works.