Use a default --merge-delim of \003 (hex) when --duplicates-merge is used.

README.md

@@ -208,6 +208,31 @@ Note that there are some extra rules that come into play when leaving out the
 example.
 
 
+When the option `--duplicates-merge` is used with a default `--merge-delim`
+setting, each record in the array element will be separated by the character
+hex \003.
+
+For example, whith an `example.ini` containing:
+```
+Key = Value 1
+Key = Value 2
+Key = Value 3
+```
+
+The values within the array element will be separated by \003 (hex).
+The output of `parse-ini` will not directly show the delimiter character in
+the terminal, but it *is* there when used in a script:
+```bash
+eval `/path/to/parse-ini --duplicates-merge example.ini`
+awk -F $'\003' '{ print $2 }' <<<"${INI_global[Key]}"
+```
+
+Would output the second value:
+```
+Value 2
+```
+
+
 Using these options allows you to access the arrays in your preferred style -
 mixed case, all lowercase or all uppercase, and with any prefix or delimiter
 you prefer.

parse-ini

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# Bash INI file parser version: 0.1.2
+# Bash INI file parser version: 0.1.3
 # Copyright (c) 2019-2024:
 #   Darren 'Tadgy' Austin <darren (at) afterdark.org.uk>
 # Licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 3.
@@ -198,10 +198,10 @@ parser_help() {
 	      If a duplicate key for a specific section is found, the normal behaviour
 	      is to have the latter instance of the key overwrite the value of the
 	      earlier.  With this option, the keys are merged, and a new, concatinated,
-	      value will result.  The concatinated values are not separated by any
+	      value will result.  The concatinated values are separated by the
-	      characters, unless '--merge-delim' is specified.  Booleans are the
+	      character(s) specified by '--merge-delim' (default hex \003).
-	      exception to this behaviour, as the latter bool will always override an
+	      Booleans are the exception to this behaviour, as the latter bool will
-	      earlier setting.
+	      always override an earlier setting.
 	  --global-name <name>
 	      The name of the 'global' section used when declaring the arrays.  Only
 	      alphanumerics and "_" may be used with this option, which cannot be empty.
@@ -216,8 +216,9 @@ parser_help() {
 	  --lowercase-keys
 	      Convert the key name to lowercase.
 	  --merge-delim
-	      When '--duplicates-merge' is used, this sets the delimiters between each
+	      When '--duplicates-merge' is used, this sets the delimiter characters
-	      of the merged values.
+	      between each of the merged values.  The default character is hex \003,
+	      which is known as the "end of text" marker.
 	  --no-booleans
 	      Normally, the parser interprites the presence of a key without an
 	      associated value as a boolean.  Keys which are proceeded by "no_" are
@@ -281,6 +282,7 @@ parse_ini() {
   local DECLARE_SCOPE="-g"				# The scope given in the array definitions.  "-g" = global scope, "-l" = local scope, "-x" = export values.
   local DUPLICATES_MERGE="0"				# Whether to merge latter duplicate key's values with earlier key's values.  0 = don't merge, 1 = do merge.
   local KEYVALUE_DELIM="="				# Delimiter between key and value.  Must be a single character.
+  local MERGE_DELIM=$'\3'				# The delimiter between each of the merged values when --duplicates-merge is used.
   local REPEAT_SECTIONS="0"				# Whether to allow section names to repeat.  0 = no repeats, 1 = allow repeats.
   local SQUASH_SPACES="1"				# Whether to squash multiple consecutive blanks into a single space.  0 = don't squash, 1 = do squash.
   local TEXTUAL_BOOLEANS="0"				# Whether to use "false" and "true" for booleans.  0 = use "0" and "1", 1 = use "false" and "true".