Shell Programming and Scripting

Hi
I have a scenario where hyphen(-) from file should be ignored
I used the following code

Code:

    if [ $LINE != "JAPAN" ] && [ $LINE != "\-" ]; then
        if [ $LINE -ne 1 ]; then
            pow=$LINE
            echo $pow > history.txt
            flag=1
        fi
    fi

I get the following output

Code:

./valid.sh[13]: -: 0403-012 A test command parameter is not valid.

How to use special characters liek "-", "#" in conditional statements of shell
Thanks in advance..

There should be no reason to escape -. Perhaps you could try double-quoting $LINE in the test.

I'm not sure the -ne test is a great idea, if you expect $LINE could contain non-numeric data.

What shell are you using (looks like an AIX KSH error number)?

As per my understanding
-ne is used for numerical comparisons and != is used for string comparisons
Am using AIX ksh shell

Assuming "LINE" doesn't equal JAPAN and it doesn't equal - (hyphen), then it must be a number, then it's OK, otherwise not.

I don't have access to AIX now, so I suggest trying this first:

Code:

    if [[ "$LINE" != JAPAN ]] && [[ "$LINE" != "-" ]]; then

Are you trying to match the whole line, or just part of it (i.e. can "JAPAN" appear anywhere on the line, or is that the whole line)?

It worked as per You suggested.. Basically I thought special characters should be used with a escape sequence(\)..

Not always. It depends on the context.

Could You please share in what all contexts escape sequences work and where it doesnt work.. It will be very helpful in the future usage..