Re: Bash "read" command: want to preload some data

[Ron Johnson <ron.l.johnson@cox.net>]

On 2010-03-06 04:28, Bob Cox wrote:
> What I am trying to do is "preload" a bash read command with a value
> which can be accepted, edited or changed by the user.  Some googling
> shows that this is dead easy to with the -i option which appeared in
> bash version 4 - I have found this:
>
> ---------------------
> Example: ask for a path with a default value.
> Note: The -i option was introduced with Bash 4.
> read -e -p "Enter the path to the file: " -i "/usr/local/etc/" FILEPATH
> The user will be prompted, he can just accept the default, or edit it.
> ---------------------
>
> This is exactly what I want.  However, for the sake of compatibility, I
> would like to do the same thing using older versions of bash, even if it
> means messier coding.  Does anyone have any ideas on how to do this
> please?

How about:

    read ...
    if [ -z "$FILEPATH" ]
    then
       FILRPATH=/usr/local/etc/"
    if

--
Ron Johnson, Jr.
Jefferson LA  USA

"If God had wanted man to play soccer, he wouldn't have given
us arms."  Mike Ditka