Read input twice on the same line (without line break) using Bash Script

Question

I was trying to read user input twice on the same line from a bash script. It's not very useful at all, but it's pretty and I'm trying to achieve this.

The relevant part of my code looks like that:

#!/usr/bin/env bash

FROM_YEAR=2015
TO_YEAR=2017
read -e -p "Backup from " -i "${FROM_YEAR}" FROM_YEAR
read -e -p " to "         -i "${TO_YEAR}"   TO_YEAR

With this code I get the following:

Backup from 2015 *press enter*
 to 2017

But I would like output like this:

Backup from 2015 *press enter* to 2017

Of course, I want an output without the marking (*press enter* ).

How can I achieve that with bash script?

Thank you :)

Pressing Enter to answer a prompt automatically goes to the next line. bash is not a form-filling application. — Barmar
– Barmar, Commented Feb 2, 2017 at 1:29
Use a tool for full-screen input, instead of the read built-in. — Barmar
– Barmar, Commented Feb 2, 2017 at 1:40

William Pursell · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-02 02:12:50Z

1

There are always workarounds, but they are not always portable. There's a good chance this will work:

#!/usr/bin/bash

FROM_YEAR=2015
TO_YEAR=2017
read -e -p "Backup from " -i "${FROM_YEAR}" FROM_YEAR 
printf '\033[1A\033[16C'
read -e -p " to " -i "${TO_YEAR}" TO_YEAR

Note that this is a terrible hack, and if FROM_YEAR does not have exactly 4 digits after you edit it, the result will not be pretty.

answered Feb 2, 2017 at 2:12

William Pursell

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agc · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-02 01:56:45Z

0

FROM_YEAR=2015 TO_YEAR=2017
read -p "Backup from ${FROM_YEAR} to ${TO_YEAR}: " FROM_YEAR TO_YEAR
echo $FROM_YEAR $TO_YEAR

Output, if the user enters "3 4":

Backup from 2015 to 2017: 3 4
3 4

answered Feb 2, 2017 at 1:56

agc

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Fred · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-02 04:18:59Z

0

You could, I guess, clear the screen before the initial display, then clear the screen again after the user presses [Enter] so that you can re-display things where you want them.

I have bash scripts with menus that work like that. You have to re-display everything, but for simple needs it does the job (if you do not mind clearing the screen, of course).

answered Feb 2, 2017 at 4:18

Fred

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