Whats up with Bash expansion?

[Nils Kassube]

Harry wrote:
> I'm brand new with ubuntu but have run linux for quite a few
> years.  I've run many versions of bash... not sure I've used the
> current one before though.  I just switched from Gentoo linux after
> several years on it but not sure what version was the last I used.
> 
> What I'm seeing that puzzles me is different than pre ubuntu so I'm
> not sure if its something changed in bash, or maybe the way it gets
> configured on Ubuntu.
> 
> Expansion seems to work different and actually causes time consuming
> delays in getting the text right.
> 
> Here is an example:
> 
> I use a few homeboy variables to help navigation.  $rea equals
> /home/reader, so in these command:
> 
>    ls $rea/some<tab> to complete to /home/reader/someplace
> 
> That is how its worked for eons... but now when I hit tab the buck
> gets escaped \$rea/som<tab> and of course that cancels any expansion.
> 
> Pre ubuntu (for me) I would see both the variable and the partial
> directory name expand when hitting <tab>.
> 
> So instead of $rea expanding to /home/reader.... it gets escaped
> \$rea.  Now I have to back up and remove the escape slash and have
> lost the expansion property that has been such a time saver.
> 
> Does anyone know if this is something that is configurable?

From another thread on this list it looks like one of these bug reports 
might help you:

<https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-terminal/+bug/768876>
<https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/acroread/+bug/769866>


Nils