How to print strings separated by TAB in bash?
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
I am trying to print two string separated by a TAB.
I have tried:
echo -e 'footbar'
printf '%st%sn' foo bar
Both of them print:
foo bar
Where the whitespace between the two is actually 5 spaces (as per selecting the output with mouse in Putty).
I have also tried using CTRL+V and pressing TAB when typing the command, with the same result.
What is the correct way to force tab being printed as tab, so I can select the output and copy it to somewhere else, with tabs?
And the secondary question: why is bash expanding tabs into spaces?
Update:
Apparently, this is a problem of Putty:
https://superuser.com/questions/656838/how-to-make-putty-display-tabs-within-a-file-instead-of-changing-them-to-spaces
bash putty
asked 2 hours ago
Asu
1234
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add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
I am trying to print two string separated by a TAB.
I have tried:
echo -e 'footbar'
printf '%st%sn' foo bar
Both of them print:
foo bar
Where the whitespace between the two is actually 5 spaces (as per selecting the output with mouse in Putty).
I have also tried using CTRL+V and pressing TAB when typing the command, with the same result.
What is the correct way to force tab being printed as tab, so I can select the output and copy it to somewhere else, with tabs?
And the secondary question: why is bash expanding tabs into spaces?
Update:
Apparently, this is a problem of Putty:
https://superuser.com/questions/656838/how-to-make-putty-display-tabs-within-a-file-instead-of-changing-them-to-spaces
bash putty
asked 2 hours ago
Asu
1234
New contributor
Asu is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
3
Related: Output tab character on terminal window
– steeldriver
2 hours ago
Why just not escape it?printf '%s\t%sn' foo bar
– Valentin Bajrami
1 hour ago
@steeldriver Thanks that's very similar to what I need, but ultimately there isn't a solution...
– Asu
1 hour ago
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
I am trying to print two string separated by a TAB.
I have tried:
echo -e 'footbar'
printf '%st%sn' foo bar
Both of them print:
foo bar
Where the whitespace between the two is actually 5 spaces (as per selecting the output with mouse in Putty).
I have also tried using CTRL+V and pressing TAB when typing the command, with the same result.
What is the correct way to force tab being printed as tab, so I can select the output and copy it to somewhere else, with tabs?
And the secondary question: why is bash expanding tabs into spaces?
Update:
Apparently, this is a problem of Putty:
https://superuser.com/questions/656838/how-to-make-putty-display-tabs-within-a-file-instead-of-changing-them-to-spaces
bash putty
asked 2 hours ago
Asu
1234
New contributor
Asu is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I am trying to print two string separated by a TAB.
I have tried:
echo -e 'footbar'
printf '%st%sn' foo bar
Both of them print:
foo bar
Where the whitespace between the two is actually 5 spaces (as per selecting the output with mouse in Putty).
I have also tried using CTRL+V and pressing TAB when typing the command, with the same result.
What is the correct way to force tab being printed as tab, so I can select the output and copy it to somewhere else, with tabs?
And the secondary question: why is bash expanding tabs into spaces?
Update:
Apparently, this is a problem of Putty:
https://superuser.com/questions/656838/how-to-make-putty-display-tabs-within-a-file-instead-of-changing-them-to-spaces
bash putty
bash putty
asked 2 hours ago
Asu
1234
New contributor
Asu is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 hours ago
Asu
1234
New contributor
Asu is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 50 mins ago
asked 2 hours ago
Asu
1234
New contributor
Asu is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 hours ago
Asu
1234
asked 2 hours ago
Asu
1234
1234
New contributor
Asu is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Asu is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Asu is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
3
Related: Output tab character on terminal window
– steeldriver
2 hours ago
Why just not escape it?printf '%s\t%sn' foo bar
– Valentin Bajrami
1 hour ago
@steeldriver Thanks that's very similar to what I need, but ultimately there isn't a solution...
– Asu
1 hour ago
add a comment |
3
Related: Output tab character on terminal window
– steeldriver
2 hours ago
Why just not escape it?printf '%s\t%sn' foo bar
– Valentin Bajrami
1 hour ago
@steeldriver Thanks that's very similar to what I need, but ultimately there isn't a solution...
– Asu
1 hour ago
3
3
Related: Output tab character on terminal window
– steeldriver
2 hours ago
Related: Output tab character on terminal window
– steeldriver
2 hours ago
Why just not escape it?
printf '%s\t%sn' foo bar– Valentin Bajrami
1 hour ago
Why just not escape it?
printf '%s\t%sn' foo bar– Valentin Bajrami
1 hour ago
@steeldriver Thanks that's very similar to what I need, but ultimately there isn't a solution...
– Asu
1 hour ago
@steeldriver Thanks that's very similar to what I need, but ultimately there isn't a solution...
– Asu
1 hour ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
Like ikkachu said, this isn't an issue with bash, but with the terminal emulator which converts tabs to spaces on output.
Checking different terminals, putty, xterm, and konsole convert tabs to spaces, while urxvt and gnome-terminal do not. So, another solution is to switch terminals.
answered 52 mins ago
JoL
927310
add a comment |
up vote
5
down vote
the whitespace between the two is actually 5 spaces.
No, it's not. Not in the output of echo or printf.
$ echo -e 'footbar' | od -c
0000000 f o o t b a r n
0000010
What is the correct way to force tab being printed as tab, so I can select the output and copy it to somewhere else, with tabs?
This is a different issue. It's not about the shell but the terminal emulator, which converts the tabs to spaces on output. Most, if not all of them do that, though I suppose it would be possible for a terminal to remember it was a tab to begin with, and let you copy it as-is.
It may be easier to redirect the output with tabs to a file, and copy it from there, or to use unexpand on the output to convert spaces to tabs. (Though it also can't know what whitespace was tabs to begin with, and will convert all of it to tabs, if possible.)
answered 2 hours ago
ilkkachu
54.8k782148
I meant that when I try to select the output, it is being treated as 5 spaces. Thanks for the 'od -c' to verify the contents of the command output.
– Asu
1 hour ago
1
@Asu I think he understands that. His solution is to get the output via other means since the terminal emulator is not guaranteed to leave tabs as tabs when you select them in the window. However, I just checked and while putty, xterm, and konsole convert tabs to spaces, urxvt and gnome-terminal do not. So, another solution is to switch terminals.
– JoL
1 hour ago
@JoL Yes, that's the conclusion I just came to a minute ago, and I think it would be the accepted answer if somebody cares to post it as such...
– Asu
59 mins ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
Like ikkachu said, this isn't an issue with bash, but with the terminal emulator which converts tabs to spaces on output.
Checking different terminals, putty, xterm, and konsole convert tabs to spaces, while urxvt and gnome-terminal do not. So, another solution is to switch terminals.
answered 52 mins ago
JoL
927310
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
Like ikkachu said, this isn't an issue with bash, but with the terminal emulator which converts tabs to spaces on output.
Checking different terminals, putty, xterm, and konsole convert tabs to spaces, while urxvt and gnome-terminal do not. So, another solution is to switch terminals.
answered 52 mins ago
JoL
927310
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
Like ikkachu said, this isn't an issue with bash, but with the terminal emulator which converts tabs to spaces on output.
Checking different terminals, putty, xterm, and konsole convert tabs to spaces, while urxvt and gnome-terminal do not. So, another solution is to switch terminals.
answered 52 mins ago
JoL
927310
Like ikkachu said, this isn't an issue with bash, but with the terminal emulator which converts tabs to spaces on output.
Checking different terminals, putty, xterm, and konsole convert tabs to spaces, while urxvt and gnome-terminal do not. So, another solution is to switch terminals.
answered 52 mins ago
JoL
927310
edited 45 mins ago
answered 52 mins ago
JoL
927310
answered 52 mins ago
JoL
927310
answered 52 mins ago
JoL
927310
927310
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
5
down vote
the whitespace between the two is actually 5 spaces.
No, it's not. Not in the output of echo or printf.
$ echo -e 'footbar' | od -c
0000000 f o o t b a r n
0000010
What is the correct way to force tab being printed as tab, so I can select the output and copy it to somewhere else, with tabs?
This is a different issue. It's not about the shell but the terminal emulator, which converts the tabs to spaces on output. Most, if not all of them do that, though I suppose it would be possible for a terminal to remember it was a tab to begin with, and let you copy it as-is.
It may be easier to redirect the output with tabs to a file, and copy it from there, or to use unexpand on the output to convert spaces to tabs. (Though it also can't know what whitespace was tabs to begin with, and will convert all of it to tabs, if possible.)
answered 2 hours ago
ilkkachu
54.8k782148
I meant that when I try to select the output, it is being treated as 5 spaces. Thanks for the 'od -c' to verify the contents of the command output.
– Asu
1 hour ago
1
@Asu I think he understands that. His solution is to get the output via other means since the terminal emulator is not guaranteed to leave tabs as tabs when you select them in the window. However, I just checked and while putty, xterm, and konsole convert tabs to spaces, urxvt and gnome-terminal do not. So, another solution is to switch terminals.
– JoL
1 hour ago
@JoL Yes, that's the conclusion I just came to a minute ago, and I think it would be the accepted answer if somebody cares to post it as such...
– Asu
59 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
5
down vote
the whitespace between the two is actually 5 spaces.
No, it's not. Not in the output of echo or printf.
$ echo -e 'footbar' | od -c
0000000 f o o t b a r n
0000010
What is the correct way to force tab being printed as tab, so I can select the output and copy it to somewhere else, with tabs?
This is a different issue. It's not about the shell but the terminal emulator, which converts the tabs to spaces on output. Most, if not all of them do that, though I suppose it would be possible for a terminal to remember it was a tab to begin with, and let you copy it as-is.
It may be easier to redirect the output with tabs to a file, and copy it from there, or to use unexpand on the output to convert spaces to tabs. (Though it also can't know what whitespace was tabs to begin with, and will convert all of it to tabs, if possible.)
answered 2 hours ago
ilkkachu
54.8k782148
I meant that when I try to select the output, it is being treated as 5 spaces. Thanks for the 'od -c' to verify the contents of the command output.
– Asu
1 hour ago
1
@Asu I think he understands that. His solution is to get the output via other means since the terminal emulator is not guaranteed to leave tabs as tabs when you select them in the window. However, I just checked and while putty, xterm, and konsole convert tabs to spaces, urxvt and gnome-terminal do not. So, another solution is to switch terminals.
– JoL
1 hour ago
@JoL Yes, that's the conclusion I just came to a minute ago, and I think it would be the accepted answer if somebody cares to post it as such...
– Asu
59 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
5
down vote
up vote
5
down vote
the whitespace between the two is actually 5 spaces.
No, it's not. Not in the output of echo or printf.
$ echo -e 'footbar' | od -c
0000000 f o o t b a r n
0000010
What is the correct way to force tab being printed as tab, so I can select the output and copy it to somewhere else, with tabs?
This is a different issue. It's not about the shell but the terminal emulator, which converts the tabs to spaces on output. Most, if not all of them do that, though I suppose it would be possible for a terminal to remember it was a tab to begin with, and let you copy it as-is.
It may be easier to redirect the output with tabs to a file, and copy it from there, or to use unexpand on the output to convert spaces to tabs. (Though it also can't know what whitespace was tabs to begin with, and will convert all of it to tabs, if possible.)
answered 2 hours ago
ilkkachu
54.8k782148
the whitespace between the two is actually 5 spaces.
No, it's not. Not in the output of echo or printf.
$ echo -e 'footbar' | od -c
0000000 f o o t b a r n
0000010
What is the correct way to force tab being printed as tab, so I can select the output and copy it to somewhere else, with tabs?
This is a different issue. It's not about the shell but the terminal emulator, which converts the tabs to spaces on output. Most, if not all of them do that, though I suppose it would be possible for a terminal to remember it was a tab to begin with, and let you copy it as-is.
It may be easier to redirect the output with tabs to a file, and copy it from there, or to use unexpand on the output to convert spaces to tabs. (Though it also can't know what whitespace was tabs to begin with, and will convert all of it to tabs, if possible.)
answered 2 hours ago
ilkkachu
54.8k782148
answered 2 hours ago
ilkkachu
54.8k782148
answered 2 hours ago
ilkkachu
54.8k782148
answered 2 hours ago
ilkkachu
54.8k782148
54.8k782148
I meant that when I try to select the output, it is being treated as 5 spaces. Thanks for the 'od -c' to verify the contents of the command output.
– Asu
1 hour ago
1
@Asu I think he understands that. His solution is to get the output via other means since the terminal emulator is not guaranteed to leave tabs as tabs when you select them in the window. However, I just checked and while putty, xterm, and konsole convert tabs to spaces, urxvt and gnome-terminal do not. So, another solution is to switch terminals.
– JoL
1 hour ago
@JoL Yes, that's the conclusion I just came to a minute ago, and I think it would be the accepted answer if somebody cares to post it as such...
– Asu
59 mins ago
add a comment |
I meant that when I try to select the output, it is being treated as 5 spaces. Thanks for the 'od -c' to verify the contents of the command output.
– Asu
1 hour ago
1
@Asu I think he understands that. His solution is to get the output via other means since the terminal emulator is not guaranteed to leave tabs as tabs when you select them in the window. However, I just checked and while putty, xterm, and konsole convert tabs to spaces, urxvt and gnome-terminal do not. So, another solution is to switch terminals.
– JoL
1 hour ago
@JoL Yes, that's the conclusion I just came to a minute ago, and I think it would be the accepted answer if somebody cares to post it as such...
– Asu
59 mins ago
I meant that when I try to select the output, it is being treated as 5 spaces. Thanks for the 'od -c' to verify the contents of the command output.
– Asu
1 hour ago
I meant that when I try to select the output, it is being treated as 5 spaces. Thanks for the 'od -c' to verify the contents of the command output.
– Asu
1 hour ago
1
1
@Asu I think he understands that. His solution is to get the output via other means since the terminal emulator is not guaranteed to leave tabs as tabs when you select them in the window. However, I just checked and while putty, xterm, and konsole convert tabs to spaces, urxvt and gnome-terminal do not. So, another solution is to switch terminals.
– JoL
1 hour ago
@Asu I think he understands that. His solution is to get the output via other means since the terminal emulator is not guaranteed to leave tabs as tabs when you select them in the window. However, I just checked and while putty, xterm, and konsole convert tabs to spaces, urxvt and gnome-terminal do not. So, another solution is to switch terminals.
– JoL
1 hour ago
@JoL Yes, that's the conclusion I just came to a minute ago, and I think it would be the accepted answer if somebody cares to post it as such...
– Asu
59 mins ago
@JoL Yes, that's the conclusion I just came to a minute ago, and I think it would be the accepted answer if somebody cares to post it as such...
– Asu
59 mins ago
add a comment |
Asu is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Asu is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Asu is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Asu is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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3
Related: Output tab character on terminal window
– steeldriver
2 hours ago
Why just not escape it?
printf '%s\t%sn' foo bar– Valentin Bajrami
1 hour ago
@steeldriver Thanks that's very similar to what I need, but ultimately there isn't a solution...
– Asu
1 hour ago