asked on

xargs/grep/expr syntax error

I need to execute a command which returns an integer and compare that result to the result of another integer-returning command and get back 0 or 1 if the integers match or not. Here's what I have:
/home/me -T B | grep -c 11 | xargs expr -I{} != /home/me -TC | grep 20081008 | grep -c 11. I'm getting a syntax error. Is what I'm trying to do possible? If so, what's the issue with my syntax?

Thanks in advance,
Nefertiti_IT

sunnycoder

#!/bin/bash
res1=`/my/command1`
res2=`/my/command2`
if [ "$res1" = "$res2" ]
then
echo match
else
echo failed
fi

Nefertiti_IT

ASKER

i'm really trying to build this into a one-liner if possible. no go?

sunnycoder

You can do something like if [ `command1` -eq `command2` ]; then echo match; fi
but you cant do command1|command2 and then compare their return status.

sunnycoder

to clarify further ... `` would capture the output ... If you mean values returned to shell, you would need $? to get return status of last command

command1
r1=$?
command2
r2=$?
if [ $r1 -eq $r2 ]
then
echo match
else
echo failed
fi

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Tintin

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

Duncan Roe

If you use the $() construct instead of backticks, you get the advantage that you can nest $(). Also I think it's easier to read, but that's only a personal opinion

[ $(/home/me -T B | grep -c 11 | xargs expr -I{}) != $(/home/me -TC | grep 20081008 | grep -c 11) ] && echo 0 || echo 1

Not sure about "expr -I{}" though, what does that do?

Nefertiti_IT

ASKER

Thanks Tintin!