Re: create database in shell script

jasonfb@panix.com (Jason Foster-Bey) wrote: >A better way to do this is: > >cat <<EOF > tmp.sql >create database $1 with log ansi; >EOF > >This way, you can check the exit status in $? upon completion. Otherwise, you >will always get a 1 for the exit status. I found that the exit status of various releases of isql is unreliable. I used to chain forms and reports together in scripts as a substitute to 4gl (which I did not have available at the time) and used to structure, build, compile and run queries, forms and reports in scripts on the basis of that which had gone before. I had to incorporate some pretty careful error checking at all stages. I was never able to rely on the exit status. Therefore, the output of file descriptor 2 (standard error) was redirected from isql under control of the _here_ document to a file (as you have done here) which I then scanned with grep for the key word "error". If "error" was ever encountered, an appropriate error handling routine was invoked: # Generate the data isql -qr <<! >$stage.rep 2>$stage.err database $database; select ...! # Check for errors if grep -i "error" $stage.err >/dev/null then ...error_handler... fi In my experience, the only time "error" ever appeared on standard error was if there was an error. Any time there was an error, either "error" or "Error" would appear on standard error. The error handler then parsed the report file and error file, checking for common error types and either advised the user of required corrective action (privileges) or corrected correctable situations (missing tables and so on). I wrote an entire inventory acquisition financial control system for aircraft spares using isql and the Bourne shell (including interactive, multi level menu control). Gary