Re: On "the usual behaviour" of empty array elements

[Peter Stephenson <p.w.stephenson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sat, 07 Jul 2012 10:37:22 -0700
Bart Schaefer <schaefer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> A fairly recent addition to the doc for the (s::) parameter flag is this:
> 
>      For historical reasons, the usual behaviour that empty array
>      elements are retained inside double quotes is disabled for arrays
>      generated by splitting
> 
> The thing is, I can't find anywhere else that "the usual behavior" of
> empty array elements is even mentioned.
> 
> Far more interesting than the retention of empty array elements in double
> quotes, I think, is that empty array elements are NOT retained when the
> array parameter reference is NOT in quotes.
>
> Is there something I just haven't spotted?  I confess
> I merely searched the doc rather than re-read it cover to cover.

I should have replied to this...

I don't think I've ever searched, so it's quite possible it's just something
"everyone knows", except when they don't.  We should put something in
the parameter expansion section in any case.

-- 
Peter Stephenson <p.w.stephenson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Web page now at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/p.w.stephenson/