read -p "prompt text" foo say "read: bad option(s)" in Bourne-Shell


 
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# 1  
Old 01-28-2009
read -p "prompt text" foo say "read: bad option(s)" in Bourne-Shell

Hallo,

i need a Prompting read in my script:
Code:
read -p "Enter your command: " command

But i always get this Error:
Code:
-p: is not an identifier

When I run these in c-shell i get this error
Code:
/usr/bin/read[8]: read: bad option(s)

How can I use a Prompt in the read command?
# 2  
Old 01-28-2009
What's your OS and shell? The -p (prompt) option is available only in bash AFAIK.
# 3  
Old 01-28-2009
Okay, its a solaris 10

Quote:
The -p (prompt) option is available only in bash AFAIK
Is there any alternative possible, which allowes an input from keyboard and where I can use a prompt?
# 4  
Old 01-28-2009
A (very) simple substitute would be
Code:
printf "Prompt: "
read command

# 5  
Old 01-28-2009
yes, thats what I have now. But i want to get this later: "prompt: _"
("_" is the cursor Smilie)

I have to do many inputs and I want to "save" lines - so i want to have mor space on the screen - do you now what I mean?

[EDIT]
Sorry - I now realized that you wrote "printf" instad of "echo"... thats a good idea ;-)
# 6  
Old 01-28-2009
I have an other Problem with this read command:
(Even thats not a problem with read, I ask anyway in this thread)

When i make inputs (bechaue of a read command) I cant use curser direction (left oder right), or I want to make a backspace, I get some signes like this:
Backspace => ^?
left => ^[[D
right => ^[[C
Delete => ^[[3~
Pos1 => ^[[1~
End => ^[[4~

Can anybody tell me what I have to do in the script before the read command, that the user can use this keys, two?
# 7  
Old 01-28-2009
Try setting the variable

EDITOR=vi

and export it.
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