How to keep spaces in strings when converting to an array in bash?

Question

I am currently working with a bash script. I have a csv file where every line looks like the following:

1,ABC DEF
2,GHI JKL

I want to create an array with only values in the second field, and then print them.

My current solution is the following:

myarr=($(awk -F, '{print $2}' filename.csv))
for i in "${myarr[@]}" 
do
    echo $i
done

My output looks like this:

ABC
DEF
GHI
JKL

When I need it to look like this:

ABC DEF
GHI JKL

I need the result to be in a variable for future operations!

How do I solve this problem?

Do you need them in an array, or do you just need the output you show? — Benjamin W.
– Benjamin W., Commented Apr 26, 2019 at 19:45

Cyrus · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-26 19:17:25Z

3

mapfile -t myarr < <(awk -F, '{print $2}' filename.csv)
declare -p myarr

Output:

declare -a array='([0]="ABC DEF" [1]="GHI JKL")'

See: help mapfile, help declare

answered Apr 26, 2019 at 19:17

Cyrus

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anubhava · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-27 18:00:49Z

3

If you want values in shell array then don't use awk. Just use a loop like this:

arr=()
while IFS=, read _ val; do
   arr+=("$val")
done < file

# check array content
declare -p arr
declare -a arr='([0]="ABC DEF" [1]="GHI JKL")'

# loop through array
for i in "${arr[@]}"; do
   echo "$i"
   # or do whatever with individual element of the array
done

edited Apr 27, 2019 at 18:00

answered Apr 26, 2019 at 19:20

anubhava

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3 Comments

niccals Over a year ago

Hi, thanks for this answer. when using declare i can see the array looking the way I want it to. But when I iterate over it, using the same for loop I used before, I still get the wrong output ("ABC DEF" is printed in two separate lines).

anubhava Over a year ago

See this answer on how to iterate an array: stackoverflow.com/a/8880633/548225 Make sure you quote it properly as shown in answer.

anubhava Over a year ago

I have added sample code for looping though array. Let me know if there is any problem.

chepner · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-26 19:43:10Z

2

You can also simply read the entire line into the array, then strip the first field.

mapfile -t myarr < filename.csv
myarr=("${myarr[@]#*,}")

answered Apr 26, 2019 at 19:43

chepner

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