How to output a multiline string in Bash?

Question

How can I output a multipline string in Bash without using multiple echo calls like so:

echo \"usage: up [--level | -n ][--help][--version         


        

Answer 1

Use -e option, then you can print new line character with \n in the string.

Sample (but not sure whether a good one or not)

The fun thing is that -e option is not documented in MacOS's man page while still usable. It is documented in the man page of Linux.

Answer 2

Use the -e argument and the escape character \n:

echo -e "This will generate a next line \nThis new line is the result"

Answer 3

If you use the solution from @jorge and find that everything is on the same line, make sure you enclose the variable in quotes:

echo $__usage

will print everything on one line whereas

echo "$__usage"

will retain the newlines.