UNIX Command Line

$ echo "HMM\tThis line got a TAB"
HMM\tThis line got a TAB

So it did not work !

To use tabs, new-line, and other formatting characters with UNIX/Linux echo command, specify the -e option:

$ echo -e "HMM\tThis line got a TAB"
HMM     This line got a TAB

Similarly:

$ echo -e "A B\nC\nD"
A B
C
D

From ECHO(1) man page:

-e enable interpretation of backslash escapes

If -e is in effect, the following sequences are recognized:

\\     backslash

\a     alert (BEL)

\b     backspace

\c     suppress trailing newline

\f     form feed

\n     new line

\r     carriage return

\t     horizontal tab

\v     vertical tab

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