l='" PAUSE=" "1" " # =\"1\" for YES & =\"\" for NO "'; echo "l=$l<<<<"; blub=$( printf "bla=( %s )" "$l" ); echo "blub=$blub<<<<"; eval $blub; echo "bla[0]=${bla[0]}<<<"; echo "bla[1]=${bla[1]}<<<"; echo "bla[2]=${bla[2]}<<<"; line='A='\''He llo'\''$(echo Knuth)'\''Be llo'\'' ;'; echo "-$line-" ingo@kruemel /tmp $ echo "'He llo'$(echo Knuth)'Be llo'" > /tmp/x ingo@kruemel /tmp $ cat /tmp/x 'He llo'Knuth'Be llo' ingo@kruemel /tmp $ cat /tmp/x | while read l ; do echo $l ; done 'He llo'Knuth'Be llo' ingo@kruemel /tmp $