`if' is not matched - message in shell script

[Christian Vollmar]

Hi gurus,

I am quite new to hp-ux and have the following problem:
I try using a simple if then else fi loop in a shell script under HP-UX 10.20
when I copy and past the code in a shell window everything works:

# if [ -f /home/vanadm/checkspace ]
> then
> echo yes
> else
> echo no
> fi
no

but when I try to run it as shell script (the code above saved in /home/vanadm/iftest) I get two errors:

1.
if the first script line contains a: #!/sbin/sh or #!/usr/bin/sh
I get:
# /home/vanadm/iftest
script interpreter "/usr/bin/sh" not found
sh: /home/vanadm/iftest: not found.


2.
if I remove the #!/xxx line the script is executed and returns:
# /home/vanadm/iftest
/home/vanadm/iftest: Syntax error at line 1 : `if' is not matched.

I am root, all files are rwxrwxrwx, and /usr/bin/sh _is_there_ ! ;-)
This `if' is not matched. drives me crazy. I tried the if [ xxx ] and the if test xxx syntax with no difference
I tried using multiple lines as above and a one-liner (if ; then ; else ; fi) - with no difference too

What specific Posix-Shell problem do I miss? (however, the problem remains the same using csh)

Thanks for any help

Christian Vollma

[Ian Dennison_1]

Christian,

Can you put the entire listing of the script in a posting?

We can then have a look at the actual code. My personal style for testing conditions such as file existing is to use double square brackets - however I do not know if that affects the result you get.

Share and Enjoy! Ian

[john korterman]

Hi Christian,
the unmatched if-error indicates that the shell cannot "see" the rest of the if- sentence, in particular not the "fi". It probably derives from your cut and paste where you probably paste some garbage into the script as well. Could you please try and write it manually in a fresh file?

regards,
John K.

[Tom Geudens]

Hi Christian,
That is indeed strange ... the same script seems to work for me.
I've attached it. Can you execute it with
sh -x iftest.sh
and post the output ?

Regards,
Tom

[UNIX Engr]

Try using #!/bin/sh as your first line. The specific code your referenced looks good enough.

Craig

[Christian Vollmar]

Hi Ian,

whow, thats a response time!

The complete code is stored in /home/vanadm/iftest:

if [ -f /home/vanadm/checkspace ]
then
echo yes
else
echo no
fi

I have just tried double brackets an things changed to

' is not expected.rror at line 2 : `

(No mistyping, this is an exact paste from the shell window!)
There still seems to be a syntax problem!?!!

The problem does not depend on the condition I test, I tried several tests.

regs n thnx

Christian

[Christian Vollmar]

Hi Tom & John

I have just used Toms script in a fresh file (and my editor shows that there are no foreign characters or other garbage)
Here is the result:

# sh -x iftest.sh
+ [ -f /home/sys/checkspace ]
iftest.sh: test: A ] character is missing.
+
iftest.sh[4]: ^M: not found.
+ echo no
no
#

Any more ideas?

[Tom Geudens · Accepted solution]

Hi Christian,
You need to ftp the script to your server as ASCII, not binary. The ^M is a typical conversion error.

Regards,
Tom

[Yogeeraj_1]

hi,

try to do a ux2dos on the script and try again.

dos2ux outfile


regards
Yogeeraj

[john korterman]

Hi again,
can you confirm that you actually typed the code manually?
Sorry, I have to ask, but your last response hints that you did not.

regards,
John K.