To start, here is a simple Java program to print the command-line
args:

public class PrintArgs {
  public static void main(String args[]) {
    for (int i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
      System.out.println(args[i]); 
    }
  }
}

And here is a simple shell script which invokes it:

#!/bin/sh
java PrintArgs $*

The problem comes when the script is invoked with arguments grouped
together in double quotes, as follows:
./printArgs.sh Arg1 "Arg2 Arg3"

produces the following undesirable result:
Arg1
Arg2
Arg3

(because $* strips away the quotes) 
the desired result is:
Arg1
Arg2 Arg3

(directly calling java, i.e. java PrintArgs Arg1 "Arg2 Arg3", DOES
produce the desired result, so the problem lies in the shell script)

Meanwhile:
./printArgs.sh Arg1 \"Arg2 Arg3\"

produces the following (also undesirable) result:
Arg1
"Arg2
Arg3"

I've been racking my brains out trying every combination of things to
get this to work: escaped quotes, escaped spaces, "$*", "$@", etc.
etc. I need help badly! I've tried many things, so if possible, please
verify that the answer works before responding.

Thanks,
David

---

Request for Question Clarification by answerguru-ga on 30 Nov 2002 00:36 PST

Hi davidk-ga,

I was just curious if you would accept a modification to your main()
method to solve this particular problem?

answerguru-ga

Change your shell script to:

#!/bin/sh
java PrintArgs "$@"

See http://www.gnu.org/manual/bash-2.05a/html_mono/bashref.html#SEC25
for the explanation.