Single Quotations within a string in shell script

Question

I have a requirement to embed single quotes in a string. How can I achieve via shell scripting?

Sample Input: --connect jdbc:sqlserver://XXXX:12;DatabaseName=S

Output: --connect 'jdbc:sqlserver://XXXX:12;DatabaseName=S'

The format of this will always remain same.

If you know that the input will always start with `--connect `, just strip this part and wrap quotes around the rest. Or, split the input at the space (which also breaks it into `--connect` and *the rest*). In both cases, you can build the output together from these pieces, wrapping the second part in quotes. Or, replace the space by ` '` (space, quote) and append another single quote at the end. — user1934428, Apr 04 '19 at 11:58
Yes that's what I want, I am new to scripting, would you mind telling me how to achieve this? — Yogesh, Apr 04 '19 at 12:00
Um, are you trying to add single-quotes so you can use it as part of a command? If so, don't do that; quotes are shell syntax, and will not be recognized in data (like variable values). See ["Variable containing multiple args with quotes in Bash"](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7454526/bash-variable-containing-multiple-args-with-quotes) and [BashFAQ #50: "I'm trying to put a command in a variable, but the complex cases always fail!"](https://mywiki.wooledge.org/BashFAQ/050) Also, don't follow any suggestions that use `eval` -- it's a huge bug magnet. — Gordon Davisson, Apr 04 '19 at 17:29
@Yogesh : I suggested 3 quite different alternatives. Which one do you want to approach? Edit your posting, so this can be discussed properly. Also show your own attempt into solving this. — user1934428, Apr 05 '19 at 04:48

Gautam · Answer 1 · 2019-04-04T12:47:08.697

1

You can use the following :

echo "--connect jdbc:sqlserver://XXXX:12;DatabaseName=S" | sed "s| jdbc| 'jdbc|g;s|$|'|g"

edited Apr 04 '19 at 12:47

answered Apr 04 '19 at 08:36

Gautam

I have to convert only a part of string to single quote and not whole quote. Out put is --connect 'jdbc:sqlserver://XXXX:12;DatabaseName=S'. The single quote starts with jdbc and not from --connect – Yogesh Apr 04 '19 at 11:45

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 04 '19 at 08:40

0

you could also escape them :

var=\'hello\'
echo $var

Outputs 'hello'

answered Apr 04 '19 at 08:40

nullPointer

I have to convert only a part of string to single quote and not whole quote. Out put is --connect 'jdbc:sqlserver://XXXX:12;DatabaseName=S'. The single quote starts with jdbc and not from --connect – Yogesh Apr 04 '19 at 11:45
Then just simply enclose it into double quotes as @Gautam suggested : `var="connect 'jdbc:sqlserver://XXXX:12;DatabaseName=S'"` – nullPointer Apr 04 '19 at 11:49
The original input will be: --connect jdbc:sqlserver://XXXX:12;DatabaseName=S with no quotes anywhere, not even at jdbc – Yogesh Apr 04 '19 at 11:52

2 Answers2