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lang-bash
trexamples to show the problem... I want to avoid a system call, so I'll look at a bash option beyond the${var##:}which I mentioned in my comment to glen's ansewer..... I'll wait for a time.. maybe there is a way to coax IFS, otherwise the first part of your answer is was after....IFSis the same in all Bourne-style shells, it's specified in POSIX.IFSchars as delimiter-string. My question was best answered byjon_d, but @nazad's's answer shows a nifty way to useIFSwith no loops and no utility apps.