CODEWITHSUNDEEP
bashbc
tbot
tbot

Reputation: 33

Bash Script- Issue with variables and | bc

So I have a variable that I want to compare with another number in an if statement. 

b=8.25
if [ $(echo "$b < 10" | bc) -ne 0 ]; then
echo "hey"
fi

I get the following error 

(standard_in) 1: syntax error

I know the issue is having the b variable inside, how can I make it so that I can maintain it in there?

Please help

Upvotes: 1

Views: 542

Answers (2)

glenn jackman
glenn jackman

Reputation: 246837

Your script file probably has DOS-style CRLF line endings:

$ b=8.25
$ if [ $(echo "$b < 10" | bc) -ne 0 ]; then
> echo "hey"
> fi
hey

$ b=$'8.25\r'
$ if [ $(echo "$b < 10" | bc) -ne 0 ]; then
> echo "hey"
> fi
(standard_in) 1: illegal character: ^M
bash: [: -ne: unary operator expected

Run dos2unix on your script file.

Upvotes: 2

user5063151
user5063151

Reputation:

Store the comparison in a variable separateley

b=8.25

# Capture output outside the if
comparison=$(echo  "$b < 10" | bc)

# Use the output in the if
if [ $comparison -ne 0 ]; then

    echo "hey"
fi

Upvotes: 0

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