SUMMARY: wc doesn't count

From: Michael Bennett SERCO ESA/ESRIN DPE/IO (Michael.Bennett@mail.esrin.esa.it)
Date: Wed Aug 16 1995 - 02:40:10 CDT

Aaargh!

I knew this, some reason forgotten.

Question:

        I'm using bourne shell, been using it for 3 years and never noticed
        this one before.

        I set a variable, i.e.:

                VAR=1234

        I count the variable, i.e.:

                echo $VAR | wc -c

        result is 5.

        Where is the invisible character? Why? AM I missing something obvious?

Answer:

        Pretty obvious really, silly me.

        use:

                echo -n $VAR | wc -c

Thanks to all 1xx people who responded.

Michael Bennett
ESA/ESRIN
European Space Agency
Frascati
Italy

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