Convert arg to uppercase to pass as variable

Question

Is there a way to convert the command line argument to uppercase and pass it as a variable within the script being invoked?

Eg. ./deploy_app.csh 1.2.3.4 middleware

should convert middleware to MIDDLEWARE and pass it as a variable inside the script where ever it requires a variable substitution.

I know that I can use echo and awk to get this output but trying to check if there is a way without using that combination

is that a CSH script? You've tagged the "bash" shell in the Q. — Jeff Schaller, Mar 21 '17 at 16:19
The script being run is a csh script, but it's possible the shell being used is bash. — Tim Kennedy, Mar 21 '17 at 16:26
I assume you're right, Tim, but in theory a "foo.csh" script could have some other shell in the she-bang line. Hopefully the OP will clarify. — Jeff Schaller, Mar 21 '17 at 16:27
Yes the script being run is a csh but the shell being used for this conversion and variable substitution is bash — Innocentspirit, Mar 22 '17 at 08:23
Relevant: http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/51983/bash-how-to-uppercase-the-command-line-argument. — Martín-Blas Pérez Pinilla, Mar 22 '17 at 08:49

score 14 · Accepted Answer · edited Mar 21 '17 at 16:42

Using bash (4.0+), inside the script:

newvarname=${3^^}

Using tcsh:

set newvarname = $3:u:q

Using zsh:

# tcsh-like syntax:
newvarname=${3:u} # or just $3:u
# native syntax:
newvarname=${(U)3}

Using tr instead of shell features (though limited to single-byte letters only in some tr implementations like GNU's):

newvarname=$(printf "%s" "$3" | tr '[:lower:]' '[:upper:]')

This page summarizes a lot of features of different UNIX shells, including text manipulation: http://hyperpolyglot.org/unix-shells.

score 8 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 21 '17 at 16:35

8

In Bash you can declare a variable as uppercase with -u, and it then converts automatically.

$ declare -u a
$ b=abcd
$ a=$b
$ echo $a
ABCD

answered Mar 21 '17 at 16:35

2

Note that it comes from ksh (where you'd use typeset instead of declare). Also note that it also has the side effect of limiting the scope of the variable to the current function (and the previous value of the variable be restored upon exit of the function). – Stéphane Chazelas Mar 21 '17 at 17:52

2 Answers2