Greg Wooledge wrote: > On Sat, Feb 12, 2011 at 11:57:08AM +0100, Ralf Goertz wrote: >> > if [ $((i)) -lt 9 ] ; then echo ok; fi >> bash: 08: value too great for base (error token is "08") >> >> Why is 08 not tried to be interpreted as octal when *numerically* compared >> using test? > > s/not // in your question, I assume.
Actually, I was surprised that the $i version worked. Since I read this group regularly I knew that the $((i)) version wouldn't work and so no, the "not " is correct ;) > If your i variable is coming from a source that may or may not include > leading zeroes (such as date(1)) then you have two choices: It does come from date(1) and I was prepared to run into problems due to octal interpretation. When I didn't I tried to force the problem with $((i)) which then made me wonder… Thank you and the other responders.
