haha, I was using such a complicated approach! thanks

-I did part 1 (pre-setting the variable $work)
-I did part 2 (actually, clarified a few of my "debugger" statements to be more helpful)
-I did part 3 - but, did you only change a few of the if statements to if test? or did you change every if statement in the script to if test? I changed everything to if test

and STILL I'm getting the same exact error:

Code:

Checking for specified landing directory: ./download/
Directory ./download/ is present and ready to receive backup.
Checking that ./download/ does not contain old backup files.
The variable $tarCheck returns: ./download/tar
I am not ready to backup, first download and delete the above mentioned contents of the ./download/ landing directory.
AFTER NESTED ELSE, WORK HAS BEEN SET TO NOT starting
AFTER NESTED IF, WORK HAS BEEN SET TO: NOT starting and no previous backups exist
PAST LANDING DIR. CHECK with work = NOT starting the ./tmp copy to ./download/
backup.sh: 29: Syntax error: end of file unexpected (expecting "fi")

I've attached my copy of the script. I figure it'll be easier if you do:
diff yourCopy myCopy
and let me know what's different? or post your version up and I'll do it.. because I'm thinking maybe I misunderstood one of these many past pieces of advice in this thread, and i'm not on the same page? or maybe you could run my script, and if it works than I'll know its my system that's different (though, i very highly doubt that will be the case)...? shooting for anything here. thanks again