Write Exact Text to File

Question

Hello,

Question: How do you write the exact text to the file instead if it spelling out the $PATH ??

I am trying to copy a line with the echo command to a text file. The command works, however it writes the actual path instead of the text itself.

Example:

echo "export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH" | cat >> /Users/$CURRENT_USER/.profile

Writes: export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/jamf/bin

Instead of " export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH "

I am scratching my head on this and can't seem to find any answers online, running as the user does not seem to work either as Jamf still fills in the $PATH with it's own seen above. Running from terminal as user still fill's in the path instead of the exact text.

mm2270 · Accepted Answer

You need to escape the $ in the $PATH variable so the shell won't do expansion.echo "export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:\$PATH" | cat >> /Users/$CURRENT_USER/.profile

b_rant · Answer

You need to escape the $ in the $PATH variable so the shell won't do expansion.

echo "export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:\\$PATH" | cat >> /Users/$CURRENT_USER/.profile

This solved the issue, thank you mm2270!

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