[HELP] Very strange script problem

[DJM]

I am having a very strange scripting problem. I'm hoping that someone can help.

I am having a problem with a script running on a QNAP NAS device. It is running Linux version 2.6.24 (root NasX86-3) (gcc version 4.1.3 20070929 (prerelease) (Ubuntu 4.1.2-16ubuntu2)) #1 SMP Sat Jun 27 01:00:45 CST 2009. Bash version is GNU bash, version 3.2.0(1)-release-(i686-pc-linux-gnu).

Create the following test file as test.conf:

[Test]
line1 = abc     def

Please note there are five spaces between abc and def. At the command prompt type the following:

[~] # /sbin/getcfg Test line1 -f test.conf
abc     def
[~] #

As you can see the returned value is correct. Now create the following script and name it test:

#!#!/bin/sh

/sbin/getcfg Test line1 -f ./test.conf

Now execute the script. The output should look correct.

[~] # ./test
abc     def
[~] #

Now modify the script so it looks like this:

#!/bin/sh

xxx=`/sbin/getcfg Test line1 -f ./test.conf`
echo $xxx

Now execute it.

[~] # ./test
abc def
[~] #

Notice that the output is wrong. The five spaces between the abc and def have been reduced to one space. Why is assigning the output to a variable changing the output? What has happened and how do I prevent this from happening? This is really screwing up some code I have and I need a solution.

Edit1:

If I execute the command directly from the command line it works. It only messes up when run from a script.

[~] # xxx="`/sbin/getcfg Test line1 -f ./test.conf`"
[~] # set
.
.
xxx='abc     def'

Thanks
Don

[DJM]

Anyone have any ideas??