Hi folks, Remember we're using 21st century bash:
__squeeze_whitespace() { echo -n ${*//[[:space:]]/ } } seems to take care of all varieties and amounts of spacing characters: $ info bash basic 'shell exp' filename pattern where the variations appear unlimited. -- Take care. Thanks, Brian Inglis Calgary, Alberta, Canada La perfection est atteinte Perfection is achieved non pas lorsqu'il n'y a plus rien à ajouter not when there is no more to add mais lorsqu'il n'y a plus rien à retirer but when there is no more to cut -- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry