#! /bin/bash
# unprotect_literal.sh

# set -vx

:&lt;&lt;-'_UnProtect_Literal_String_Doc'

    Copyright (c) Michael S. Zick, 2003; All Rights Reserved
    License: Unrestricted reuse in any form, for any purpose.
    Warranty: None
    Revision: $ID$

    Documentation redirected to the Bash no-operation. Bash will
    '/dev/null' this block when the script is first read.
    (Uncomment the above set command to see this action.)

    Remove the first (Sha-Bang) line when sourcing this as a library
    procedure.  Also comment out the example use code in the two
    places where shown.


    Usage:
        Complement of the "$(_pls 'Literal String')" function.
        (See the protect_literal.sh example.)

        StringVar=$(_upls ProtectedSringVariable)

    Does:
        When used on the right-hand-side of an assignment statement;
        makes the substitions embedded in the protected string.

    Notes:
        The strange names (_*) are used to avoid trampling on
        the user's chosen names when this is sourced as a
        library.


_UnProtect_Literal_String_Doc

_upls() {
    local IFS=$'x1B'                # \ESC character (not required)
    eval echo $@                    # Substitution on the glob.
}

# :&lt;&lt;-'_UnProtect_Literal_String_Test'
# # # Remove the above "# " to disable this code. # # #


_pls() {
    local IFS=$'x1B'                # \ESC character (not required)
    echo $'\x27'$@$'\x27'           # Hard quoted parameter glob
}

# Declare an array for test values.
declare -a arrayZ

# Assign elements with various types of quotes and escapes.
arrayZ=( zero "$(_pls 'Hello ${Me}')" 'Hello ${You}' "\'Pass: ${pw}\'" )

# Now make an assignment with that result.
declare -a array2=( ${arrayZ[@]} )

# Which yielded:
# - - Test Three - -
# Element 0: zero is: 4 long            # Our marker element.
# Element 1: Hello ${Me} is: 11 long    # Intended result.
# Element 2: Hello is: 5 long           # ${You} expanded to nothing.
# Element 3: 'Pass: is: 6 long          # Split on the whitespace.
# Element 4: ' is: 1 long               # The end quote is here now.

# set -vx

#  Initialize 'Me' to something for the embedded ${Me} substitution.
#  This needs to be done ONLY just prior to evaluating the
#+ protected string.
#  (This is why it was protected to begin with.)

Me="to the array guy."

# Set a string variable destination to the result.
newVar=$(_upls ${array2[1]})

# Show what the contents are.
echo $newVar

# Do we really need a function to do this?
newerVar=$(eval echo ${array2[1]})
echo $newerVar

#  I guess not, but the _upls function gives us a place to hang
#+ the documentation on.
#  This helps when we forget what a # construction like:
#+ $(eval echo ... ) means.

# What if Me isn't set when the protected string is evaluated?
unset Me
newestVar=$(_upls ${array2[1]})
echo $newestVar

# Just gone, no hints, no runs, no errors.

#  Why in the world?
#  Setting the contents of a string variable containing character
#+ sequences that have a meaning in Bash is a general problem in
#+ script programming.
#
#  This problem is now solved in eight lines of code
#+ (and four pages of description).

#  Where is all this going?
#  Dynamic content Web pages as an array of Bash strings.
#  Content set per request by a Bash 'eval' command
#+ on the stored page template.
#  Not intended to replace PHP, just an interesting thing to do.
###
#  Don't have a webserver application?
#  No problem, check the example directory of the Bash source;
#+ there is a Bash script for that also.

# _UnProtect_Literal_String_Test
# # # Remove the above "# " to disable this code. # # #

exit 0
