Linux Mint Forums

Hope that you continue believing that there are note supid questions, Iḿ newbie.
linux Mint 14 mate, 32 bits, installed on a pendrive.

I am trying to get the mac address fron ifconfig comand.
command--> mac=${(ifconfig wlan0 |grep HWaddr):38:19}
linux --> bash: ${(ifconfig wlan0 |grep HWaddr):38:19}: bad substitution

if I do it in two steps it works fine.
mint@mint ~ $ a=$(ifconfig wlan0 |grep HWaddr)
mint@mint ~ $ b=${a:38:19}
mint@mint ~ $ echo $b
xx.xx.xx.xx.xx.xx

I am sure that this question is a bit stupid, at least. But I can not find where the problem. I tested whit little variations and the problem is the same.
any help will be apreciated.
Jose

I can't remember all the bash syntax, so would just use sed to cut off the part of the line that you don't want. Result is the mac address. Moved your topic here as perhaps the scripting wizards here will have an answer how to do this with the bash syntax

thanks a lot xenopeek,
this solves my problem, I did not tried to use sed because I ignore how to work with it.
I still ignore why the bash fails, but your solution is very nice! hopefully, someone will explain why the bash command is failing

thanks again.