UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users

Hi guys my while do loop is not working properly;
As soon as the load_date and run_date is same it should stop can somebody tell me where I am having the problem?
In an oracle table I have
LOAD_DT=5/1/2009 DATE datatype
RUN_DT=5/5/2009 DATE datatype
Now in a script with a spool file I get the dates in char type
v_LOAD_DT==`head -n1 $spool | awk '{print $1}'`(20090501)
v_RUN_DT==`head -n1 $spool | awk '{print $1}'`(20090505)
while [$v_LAST_LOAD_DT -lt $v_RUN_DT]
do
#{Here I am incrementing the date]
sqlplus /nolog @increment.SQL $calc_spool
if [$? -ne 0]; then exit 1; fi
v_next_dt=`head -n1 $calc_spool | awk '{print $1}'`
echo "$v_NEXT_DT"
[$v_NEXT_DT -eq $v_RUN_DT]
#[Here I am updating the table with the next day ]
sqlplus /nolog @Update_dt.SQL $v_update
if [$? -ne 0]; then exit 1; fi
done
The problem with the syntax is the loop is not stopping. when the load_dt=run_dt the loop should stop.
But when I force it to stop I see the load_dt to be a much later date.I dont think the while do syntax is right.
And it seems it is not recognising [$v_NEXT_DT -eq $v_RUN_DT] syntax.
Can you tell me what is the problem?
Thanks in advance

I think you should make sure that your variables are proper integers.
You can use "typeset -i name=value" or "integer name=value".
Unless you use integers, your condition would not work.

There must be a space after the opening bracket and a space before the closing bracket in your test statements, for example:

Code:

while [ $v_LAST_LOAD_DT -lt $v_RUN_DT ]

instead of:

Code:

while [$v_LAST_LOAD_DT -lt $v_RUN_DT]

Regards

yes as franklin mentioned you need a space after "[" in every loop such as if while etc

I got those spaces but still i am facing the same problem. IS my while do loop logic ok.

why are you referencing the SAME field ($1) for both variables?

Also.......

Code:

v_LOAD_DT=$(awk 'FNR==1 {print $1;exit}' "${spool}")

Thanks vgersh,

But that is not what I am looking at and I apologise that I confused you.

I should explain because I am really stuck.

In an oracle table I have
LOAD_DT=5/1/2009 DATE datatype
RUN_DT=5/5/2009 DATE datatype

with the help of spool file I am picking these variables up like 02-MAY-2009 and 05-MAY-2009

Now my question is with a do while loop I need to get the dates 03-MAY-2009, 04-MAY-2009 and 05-MAY-2009.

I am confused at where to initialize and totally confused with the loop.


I did this

while [ $LOAD_DT -lt $RUN_DT ]
do

#Here I will write a sqlplus code to increment the date
#I will get my other work done here

stop condition

done

#Here I will update my table with the next day sqlplus code


Just please suggest me the do while loop syntax for this case and the stop condition.
I am sure I am messing up at the initialising or stop condition.

Thanks to all of you,