Problem in executing report using rwrun.sh with runtime/lexical parameters

Question

hi..
My problem is as follows..
I'm using SuSE8.0, with Oracle DS installed..
I made a rep file to execute a report from command line using rwrun.sh.
For the first time I got problems with single quotes and later I solved it by using \ as escape sequence and I can generate the report.
I have 2 lexical parameters.
1) atable --> for table names
2) whereford --> for WHERE condition
When I make the following command I execute it successfully and get the report .
/opt/oracle/OraHome1/bin/rwrun.sh /opt/jakarta/webapps/ROOT/std-reports/DiagnoseProtokolle.rep userid=test/test@approxim batch=yes desname=/opt/jakarta/webapps/ROOT/kovi_361_Report.PDF destype=file desformat=PDF atable=\',SD_DIAGNOSESYSTEME\' whereford=\'\ \(\(\ SD_DIAGNOSESYSTEME.bezeichnung\ =\'AIRBAG\'\ \)\)\ AND\ \(\(\ SD_DIAGNOSESYSTEME.bezeichnung\ =\'ABS\'\ \)\)\ AND\' tracefile=/opt/jakarta/webapps/ROOT/trace/trace.log tracemode=TRACE_REPLACE
** In one line..
If I don't use \ for escaping braces it doesn't work and also for spaces and single quotes.
I use braces as I get sometimes mixed conditions..
But when I make a condition like for eg: emp.emp_id = dept.emp_emp_id it is not executing..
i mean primary key is referd to foreign key of another table.
so in the same way the error prone command looks like this
/opt/oracle/OraHome1/bin/rwrun.sh /opt/jakarta/webapps/ROOT/std-reports/DiagnoseProtokolle.rep userid=test/test@approxim batch=yes desname=/opt/jakarta/webapps/ROOT/kovi_361_Report.PDF destype=file desformat=PDF atable=\',MESSWERTE,SD_DIAGNOSESYSTEME\' whereford=\'\ \(\(\ MESSWERTE.mess_id\ =\ SD_DIAGNOSESYSTEME.mess_mess_id\ AND\ SD_DIAGNOSESYSTEME.bezeichnung\ =\'AIRBAG\'\ \)\)\ AND\ \(\(\ SD_DIAGNOSESYSTEME.bezeichnung\ =\'ABS\'\ \)\)\ AND\' tracefile=/opt/jakarta/webapps/ROOT/trace/trace.log tracemode=TRACE_REPLACE
when I had a look at the trace.log file I see that particular condition is transformed in to
MESSWERTE.mess_id = 'SD_DIAGNOSESYSTEME.mess_mess_id'
but this is completely awkward.
Then I made a batch file and tested it on windows and i put the whole condition in double quotes and it worked always fine..
It seems the problem is with the shell ..or ??
In my rwrun.sh th elast line looks like this..
$ORACLE_HOME/bin/rwrun $*
I also tried to chaneg this to
$ORACLE_HOME/bin/rwrun "$@" and also $ORACLE_HOME/bin/rwrun "$*"
but no progress..
If some one could help me it would be gratefull for me..
Thanx in advance..
regards
Kovi

Answer 1

Here's the relevant portion from the Bash manual:
Enclosing characters in double quotes preserves the literal value of all characters within the quotes, with the exception of $, `, and \. The characters $ and ` retain their special meaning within double quotes. The backslash retains its special meaning only when followed by one of the following characters: $, `, ", \, or <newline>. A double quote may be quoted within double quotes by preceding it with a backslash.
So basically stop escaping the single-quotes with a backslash, and instead enclose the entire argument value in double-quotes. Add the single-quotes only if you want them literally, don't escape the parentheses, etc. Let's know if it works for you.
-Manish