I am attempting to make a code that searches on google from terminal by inserting thing into the link. Does anybody know how to replace spaces with pluses so that I can insert that into the link instead of the original search term. I am thinking of using things commands like sed, although I don't understand the formatting of sed.
I am currently using the below:
search() {
read F1
a=$F1
b=
c=$b$a
echo OPENING:
echo $c
open $c
}
The problem is that this requires pluses instead of spaces. I need a way to replace spaces with pluses in the a variable.
3 Answers
To replace characters in a variable in the bash shell, you can use parameter expansion
Ex. to replace each space with a plus character
$ var='some string with spaces'
$ echo "${var// /+}"
some+string++++with+spaces
or to replace sequences of spaces with a single plus (provided you have enabled extended globbing in the shell)
$ echo "${var//+( )/+}"
some+string+with+spaces
You can assign to a new variable newvar="${var//+( )/+}" or reassign to change the value of the variable directly i.e.
$ var='some string with spaces'
$ echo "$var"
some string with spaces
$
$ var="${var//+( )/+}"
$ echo "$var"
some+string+with+spaces
Here's an illustration of its use in the context described in your updated question:
Construct a minimal ~/.bash_profile
if [ -r $HOME/.profile ]; then
. $HOME/.profile
fi
search() {
read -p 'Please enter a search term: ' searchterm
c="( )/+}"
echo "OPENING: $c"
}
Then start a new login shell and test it
$ bash -l
$ search
Please enter a search term: ask ubuntu
OPENING:
$
You could use this command:
sed -i 's/ /+/g' filename
I figured out how to do this and it works on my computer. Just use this code in your .bash_profile.
search() {
clear
echo Type in your search term:
read F1
F=`echo "$F1" | sed "s/ /+/g"`
echo Opening: "$F"
open "$F"
}
