Command Line Parsing

Command Line Parsing

• Linux and MacOS
• Windows Command Prompt
• Windows PowerShell
• List quoting rules
• Queries example

Linux and MacOS

When entering gam csv commands, you should enclose references to CSV file headers in "; e.g., name "~name".

In bash, if an argument contains a ~, |, >, or <, you must enclose the argument in "; e.g., name "Test|Group".

In zsh, if an argument contains a ~, |, !, >, or <, you must enclose the argument in '; e.g., name 'Test|Group'.

To embed a ' in a string enclosed in ", enter '; name "Test'Group".

To embed a " in a string enclosed in ', enter "; name 'Test"Group'.

To embed a ' in a string enclosed in ', enter '\''; name 'Test'\''Group'.

To embed a " in a string enclosed in ", enter \"; name "Test\"Group".

Linux and MacOS do not recognize smart or curly quotes, “ and ”, they can not be used to enclose arguments.

Windows Command Prompt

Command Prompt does not recognize smart or curly quotes, “ and ”, they can not be used to enclose arguments.

Command Prompt does not recognize single quotes, ', they can not be used to enclose arguments.

To embed a ' in a string enclosed in ", enter '; name "Test'Group".

To embed a " in a string enclosed in ", enter \"; name "Test\"Group".

Windows PowerShell

In PowerShell, if you want an empty string argument, you must enter: `"`"

PowerShell does not recognize smart or curly quotes, “ and ”, they can not be used to enclose arguments.

To embed a ' in a string enclosed in ", enter '; name "Test'Group".

To embed a " in a string enclosed in ", enter `"; name "Test`"Group".

To embed a ' in a string enclosed in ', enter ''; name 'Test''Group'.

To embed a " in a string enclosed in ', enter \"; name 'Test\"Group'.

List quoting rules

Items in a list can be separated by commas or spaces; if an item itself contains a comma, a space or a single quote, special quoting must be used. Typically, you will enclose the entire list in double quotes and quote each item in the list as detailed below.

• Items, separated by commas, without spaces, commas or single quotes in the items themselves
  • "item,item,item"
• Items, separated by spaces, without spaces, commas or single quotes in the items themselves
  • "item item item"
• Items, separated by commas, with spaces, commas or single quotes in the items themselves
  • "'it em','it,em',\"it'em\""
• Items, separated by spaces, with spaces, commas or single quotes in the items themselves
  • "'it em' 'it,em' \"it'em\""

Typical places where these rules apply are lists of OUs and Contact Groups.

Queries example

Linux and MacOS

gam print users queries "\"orgUnitPath='/Students/Lower School/2027'\",\"orgUnitPath='/Students/Lower School/2028'\""

Windows Command Prompt

gam print users queries "\"orgUnitPath='/Students/Lower School/2027'\",\"orgUnitPath='/Students/Lower School/2028'\""

Windows Power Shell

gam print users queries "`"orgUnitPath=\'/Students/Lower\ School/2027\'`",`"orgUnitPath=\'/Students/Lower\ School/2028\'`""