Jeff Hyman wrote (on Sun, Mar 30, 2008 at 11:43:34AM -0400):

| Bob Stockler typed (on Sat, Mar 29, 2008 at 03:53:42PM -0400):
| | Jeff Hyman wrote (on Sat, Mar 29, 2008 at 03:16:23PM -0400):
| |
| | | # echo "abcde" > /tmp/foo
| | | # wc -m /tmp/foo (-c flag gives same results)
| | | 6 foo
| | |
| | | Am I going nuts, or is this a bug?
| |
| | You're going (or staying) nuts.
| |
| | | File 'foo' has 5 characters, not 6 ... and no blank lines or spaces.
| | |
| | | If this is the way it's supposed to be, then
| | | how can one rely on its output except to remember
| | | to subtract 1 ?
| |
| | If you execute:
| |
| | hd /tmp/foo
| |
| | you'll see there are 6 characters in it - "abcde" followed by "0a",
| | the newline character.
| |
| | Bob
|
| Guys,
|
| I know about the -n \c flags for echo... but no where and no time
| did I ever imagine what you so clearly explain above.
|
| Where I typically use 'wc' is if I run a classified or to rent some
| commercial space, or sell something, or hire someone. I use(d) the
| 'wc' command to determine the cost of the ad by the character count.
| I never would have detected it except I tried it on one word.
|
| Looks like I've been getting "Oa'ed" for some time.
| Bobby... does this mean I'm "going" or "staying" nuts? :-)

Staying.

Bob

--
Bob Stockler +-+ bob@trebor.iglou.com +-+ http://members.iglou.com/trebor