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syntax error: `$' unexpected

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# 1  
Old 06-07-2010
syntax error: `$' unexpected
Hi all,
Am very new to Unix and am currently Involved in Migrating some Shell Scripts from AIX 4 to Solaris 10.

While using teh for loop am getting the below error:
Code:
$ echo $SHELL
/usr/bin/ksh
$ for file in $(ls *SEBE*)
syntax error: `$' unexpected

while the same works without issue on AIX.

Please Help!!!
Last edited by vbe; 06-07-2010 at 01:10 PM.. Reason: code tags please
# 2  
Old 06-07-2010
well, try to switch to bash/sh, on my test Solaris 9 system, that construct works well; and don`t forget, that you`ll need to expand your script to something like this:

Code:
for file in $(ls -la) ; do echo $file; done

Last edited by vbe; 06-07-2010 at 01:16 PM.. Reason: plain english...
# 3  
Old 06-07-2010
Tried Switching, but does not work
Code:
$ echo $SHELL
/usr/bin/ksh
$ SHELL=/bin/sh
$ echo $SHELL
/bin/sh
$ for file in $(ls -la)
syntax error: `$' unexpected
$

Read a Post that kron shell does not support $(COMMAND) and must use `COMMAND`
tried that way and it works.
But i was expecting that if i am Adding the line
Code:
#!/bin/ksh
as the first line in my Script, it should work.
So My Script
#!/bin/ksh
  
set -a
  
for file in $(ls *SEBE*)
do
  tfile=$(basename $file)
  echo "File name is $tfile"
done
set +a

must ideally work, But does not and i have to change it to:
Code:
#!/bin/ksh     # Set Korn Shell Environment

for file in `ls *SEBE*`
do
  #
  # Get the file name to process.
  #
  tfile=`basename "$file"`
  echo $tfile
done

Experts Does teh above make any Sense?

Moderator's Comments:
Mod Comment Please use code tags
Last edited by Scott; 06-07-2010 at 03:58 PM.. Reason: Code tags, PLEASE!
# 4  
Old 06-07-2010
If it works, it works. Solaris tends to have very old nonposix shells for compatibility reasons, though I'd previously believed at least ksh was relatively modern...
# 5  
Old 06-07-2010
First of all I'd like to say, that AFAIK simply setting the SHELL variable does not actually change the current shell.
Code:
[myuser@myhost /]$ echo $0
bash
[myuser@myhost /]$ echo $SHELL
/usr/local/bin/ksh93
[myuser@myhost /]$ SHELL=/bin/sh
[myuser@myhost /]$ echo $SHELL
/bin/sh
[myuser@myhost /]$ echo $0
bash
[myuser@myhost /]$ /bin/sh
$ echo $0
/bin/sh
$

Second: AFAIK it's not a good idea to use ls in that manner, why not simply try following:
Code:
for file in *SEBE*

Third: IMHO that basename part it completely unnecessary in this case.
Last edited by pseudocoder; 06-07-2010 at 04:02 PM..
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