Bash script variables and parameter passing

Question

I'm trying to pass a string variable to an application in a bash script:

    # launch app for translator to verify
    DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "$0" )" && pwd )"

    langstr="'(English)'"
    case $language in
    "fr") 
        langstr="'(French)'";;
    esac

    echo $langstr
    #$DIR/../Debug/MyApp.app/Contents/MacOS/MyApp -AppleLanguages '(French)'
    $DIR/../Debug/MyApp.app/Contents/MacOS/MyApp -AppleLanguages $langstr

The echo reveals that $langstr is what I expect it to be: '(French)'. The commented line with the hard coded language parameter works fine (app launches in French), but substituting that with the line with the $langstr variable launches the app in English which probably means that it ignored it some how.

What I probably need is to find myself a lesson on bash variable usage, but I was hoping to get a quick answer here in the meantime.

Michał Wojciechowski · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-09 23:16:40Z

1

When you pass the parameter using a variable like that, the single quotes are considered to be part of the parameter's value. So, your application gets literally the string '(French)', while it probably expects just (French). Change the variable assignment to langstr="(French)".

answered Sep 9, 2011 at 23:16

Michał Wojciechowski

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bash-o-logist · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-09 23:16:50Z

0

Why do you need the cd command in a variable? Just do it as it is

langstr="(English)"
case $language in
"fr") 
    langstr="(French)";;
esac

echo $langstr
DIR=$(dirname "$0")
$DIR/../Debug/MyApp.app/Contents/MacOS/MyApp -AppleLanguages "$langstr"

answered Sep 9, 2011 at 23:16

bash-o-logist

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