Date Format Does not work in Shell

mrx1350 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008

I'm am able to format the date in the unix prompt using NOW=$(date +"%d%m%y"). However, when i put the same format into a shell script, it errors out with the followign.

sintax error on line 4: `NOW=$' unexpected.

#!/bin/ksh

EXP_LOC=/u02/oradata/exports
NOW=$(date +"%d%m%y")

echo $NOW
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
"test" 13 lines, 363 characters

cfajohnson · #2 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008

That looks as if it's being executed by a non-standard shell rather than by ksh. You can use the old-fashioned form of command substitution:
Code:
NOW=`date +%Y%m%d`
... but you should figure out why it is not using ksh.

How are you calling the script?

joeyg · #3 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008

Can you try a simpler command? Perhaps just setting with date like in my second assignment in my script. Maybe your system does not like part of the date options??

Code:

> cat date_scr
#!/bin/ksh

EXP_LOC=/u02/oradata/exports
NOW=$(date +"%d%m%y")
echo $NOW
NOW2=$(date)
echo $NOW2

> ksh date_scr
101008
Fri Oct 10 08:24:26 PDT 2008
>

mrx1350 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfajohnson

That looks as if it's being executed by a non-standard shell rather than by ksh. You can use the old-fashioned form of command substitution:
Code:
NOW=`date +%Y%m%d`
... but you should figure out why it is not using ksh.

How are you calling the script?

i was calling the shell using the sh before the script. for instance sh file.sh.

I tried the other way you suggested and worked fine. thanks.

cfajohnson · #5 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008

By calling it with sh, you are using a non-standard shell (are you on Solaris?) rather than ksh.

mrx1350 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfajohnson

By calling it with sh, you are using a non-standard shell (are you on Solaris?) rather than ksh.

yes in on a solaris environment

mrx1350 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfajohnson

By calling it with sh, you are using a non-standard shell (are you on Solaris?) rather than ksh.

if i don't use the sh infront of the script, it does not run

More UNIX and Linux Forum Topics You Might Find Helpful
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
why the date format dont work in crontab	p4cldba	UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users	7	06-30-2008 08:09 PM
date issue-find prevoius date in a patricular format	bsandeep_80	UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users	3	11-15-2007 08:42 PM
convert mmddyy date format to ccyyddd format??	Bhups	Shell Programming and Scripting	2	09-27-2006 11:30 PM
Date format - Shell scripting gurus please help	geomonap	Shell Programming and Scripting	3	02-02-2006 05:15 AM
convert date in lilian format for shell (AIX)	chocolate	AIX	2	11-09-2004 04:48 AM

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread: