Bash – single quotes of characters AWK scan string

badix = index($0,"47") - this does not find it
badix = index($0, "'") - throws a fit
badix = index($0, "'") - throws a fit
badix = index($0, ') - throws a fit

awk $'{
 # Lots of other awk code...

 badix=index($0, "'") }'

 # The rest of the awk code
 }'< /pre> 

I have a line and I want to know if there are any embedded single quote characters in it. Using awk, I tried several variations

badix = index($0,"47") - this does not find it
badix = index($0, "'") - throws a fit
badix = index($0, "'") - throws a fit
badix = index($0, ') - throws a fit

This applies to awk on Solaris 10. , So the gawk solution is not applicable in this case.

Any suggestions?

You have a shell quoting problem, I suspect you are using single quotes to enclose the awk command, even if you escape it, you cannot include single quotes. Try $'... 'Quotation, which can contain escaped single quotes:

awk $'{
 # Lots of other awk code...
< br /> badix=index($0, "'") }'

 # The rest of the awk code
 }'