Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2000 18:51:24 -0800 From: R Joseph Wright <rjoseph@nwlink.com> Cc: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Bash prompt (Was: window manager question) Message-ID: <387554AC.C953BD4D@nwlink.com> References: <200001052224.XAA37273@dorifer.heim3.tu-clausthal.de> <387435D1.7E20347D@nwlink.com> <20000106175704.A7246@hades.hell.gr>
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> > if [[ $EUID -eq 0 ]]; then
> > PS1="root@\h\w\$"
> > else
> > PS1="joseph@\h\w\$"
> > fi
> > According to the man page on bash, the "$" is supposed to show up as "#"
> > if uid is 0, otherwise it will show as "$". It doesn't do this,
> > however. It always shows up as "$", regardless of uid.
>
> Actually, when you use "\$" enclosed in double quotes, as shown above,
> then bash will try and expand shell variables in the string. The dollar
> sign is used to start shell variable substitutions. This would make a
> prompt like "($UID) " work fine, replacing $UID with the current UID.
> However, using a backslash, you can escape a `$' character, and force
> bash to insert a literal `$' in that place (always speaking of double
> quotes, here).
>
> If you don't want shell-variable substitution in the prompt value (which
> happens at the time the PS1 value is evaluated, *before* it gets
> assigned to PS1), then you are better off using single quotes. Try:
>
> PS1='\u@\h:\w\$ ' # note the single quotes!
I don't fully understand what you meant about shell variables, but it
works. And that's the only line I need because it automatically checks
for UID and acts accordingly.
--
Best Regards, Joseph
You will do foolish things,
but do them with enthusiasm. Colette.
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